Edward Augustine Graham affectionately called School Boy, Jas School, Natty, but mostly Clifton was born to parents Clifford and Violet Graham on April 25, 1945 in Jones Pen St Thomas, Jamaica West Indies. As a child Clifton knew the value of hard work and always referred to his mother as the strongest woman he knew. As a young man Clifton worked with his parents and siblings to provide for the family but eventually went to make his own way, he moved to Kingston where he made a name for himself as a man of substance, he was also known as a ladies man, a sharp dresser and the friend who you want in your corner.
During his time in Kingston, he met Doreen May Samuels, the love of his life also known as Gem, they resided in Kingston for a while but then they moved to St Thomas where Clifton took up farming and Doreen ran the house hold. Clifton was old school and believed that the man of the house should provide. Clifton had a son named John from a previous relationship in Kingston who visited the family often.
The birth of their daughter Jean Marie was the start of their family, a few years later they had Sidonie, then Suzanne and a few years later they got their first son together named Clifford, and after that his namesake Edward. The family lived together in Jamaica, but Doreen moved to Canada to make a better life for their family. Clifton took over the raising of his kids and providing for his family, he was a strict disciplinarian and made sure that his kids were well mannered, well groomed, pursued an education and did not hang with bad company.
People would often talk about Clifton’s kids, they would say they were well mannered, smart and have a good head on their shoulders. Clifton had to leave school early to help his family, so he did not have a formal education, but education was important to him, he pushed his kids to get good grades, and told his kids often to stop playing and take a book, his dedication paid off as all his kids has focused on their education in their own way and made him proud. Clifton eventually migrated to America where he was joined by Gem, they resided in New York City for a while where they had one more kid named Alicia.
This brought the total count of their kids to six. While residing in New York Clifton continued to help various friends and family members who needed his help, he also made a lifelong friend named Mum. One by one Clifton sent for his kids in Jamaica until only two remained, the family eventually moved to Worcester Ma, for the environment and the education system.
In Worcester they had their final kid Andrew which brought the total to seven. Upon arrival in Worcester, Clifton connected with old friends from Jamaica, Carl and Paul who continued to be his friends and visited him often even after his health declined. Eventually all his kids resided in Worcester.
Clifton always helped friends and family and if he had then you had, he had no problem giving money, clothes, food or whatever was needed to his friends or family. His kids were his pride and joy and he was proud of the things they accomplished. In his later years he resided with several of his children but was living with his daughter Suzanne, her husband Paul and their kids Bella and Ella for the past several years.
He was a devoted grandfather who enjoyed the visits of his multiple grandchildren where he would reminisce about his time in Jamaica riding his bike and going to bush, he often talked of those good old days. He enjoyed watching sports, wrestling, and movies and he would often ask to put on a “wicked” movie for him, he also loved his Bob Marley music, he loved playing cards and would play it with his kids and grandchildren when he could. Clifton was a follower of the Rastafarian culture, he appreciated the simplicity of the lifestyle, but he knew who God was.
He could have a conversation on any topic and when he believed in something, good luck changing his mind. Although a long time Worcester resident, he was a New Yorker always, and would cheer for his team the New York Yankees and the New York Knicks, he could often be seen in his New York Yankees hat. Clifton lived a full life and although his health declined in the later years, he had many families and a few friends nearby.
Every one of his kids remembered him for setting the standards of a man being a man, women not being easy, education and manners being important, and not to eat from everyone. No one was ready for his passing and we will all mourn his loss, he leaves behind Gem the mother of his children, his children Denise, Wendy, Sacha, Ryan, Bryan, Trussie and Bubba. (Yes, as Jamaicans they all had a family name different from their given name) His grandchildren, Boops, Elisa, Marcus, Bella, Lizzie, Jadon, Ella, Savannah, Chris, Eddie, Sydney and many others, his great granddaughter Laylay, along with multiple nieces, nephews, and cousins, he has a very large family who will miss him dearly.
Clifton was a man of strong opinions, a man who loved his family and friends, he was strong and loyal and although he was not a man of many words, you knew you were loved by the way he took care of people, his legacy will continue through his kids, his grandkids and so on, we miss him every day but we will draw comfort from the memories of him, riding his bike, playing cards, playing dominos, watching a movie or wrestling, and various other memories, we will find comfort in the fact that he touched many lives, and although we were not ready to see him go, we are grateful for the time we had with him and the memories we shared. All are welcome to join Edward’s family to celebrate his life on Saturday November 10, 2018 from 9:00 am – 12:00 noon at the Emmanuel Baptist Church, 717 Main Street Worcester, MA; Committal will follow at All Faiths Cemetery. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Graham, Putnam & Mahoney Funeral Parlors.
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