5 October 1928 - 22 October 2016

From a 10/23/2016 article on the CBS Chicago news site:

Chicago Radio legend Herb Kent has died. He was 88.

V103, 102.7 FM, The Chicago R&B radio station where Mr. Kent, nicknamed “The Cool Gent,” spent 27 years on air, announced early Sunday that he died Saturday (Oct. 22) evening.

Born Herbert Rogers Kent, the Chicago native was raised in the Ida B. Wells public housing development on the South Side of Chicago. He began his radio career at 16-years-old, when he was accepted into the highly competitive WBEZ Radio Workshops.

Mr. Kent’s first paid radio job was at WGRY in Gary, Indiana for $35 a week. Throughout his career he would become one of the first regular deejays on WVON, and work for WJJD, as well as serve as an instructor at Chicago State University.

He was an active voice in the Chicago leg of the Civil Rights Movement who hosted a program alongside Stevie Wonder for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s last visit to Chicago.

Mr. Kent’s nearly 70 years of experience in radio was celebrated this year as he was indicted into the National R&B Hall of Fame. Other inductees included Prince, Smokey Robinson, Fats Domino, Jimi Hendricks, Bobby Brown, Sam & Dave, among others.

In 2009, Mr. Kent was certified in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest tenured deejay, 67 years on Chicago radio at the time.

In 1995 Mr. Kent was inducted into the Museum of Broadcasting’s Radio Hall of Fame. In Bronzeville, there’s a street named in his honor, “Herb Kent Drive.”

Funeral arrangements are pending.
 

Danny Clifford, son of Julian "Bud" and Betty Clifford, married James Graziano on March 12, 2016 in Tucson, Arizona. Congratulations to the happy couple!

Michael Grandison, son of Bradley Grandison, graduated from Capital University Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Arts Degree with a major in Business Leadership Management and a Minor in Music. Michael also spoke at the Kent-Clifford Reunion regarding his new ministry on college campuses. He is the grandson of Arthur Grandison and Phyllis Clifford. Congratulations, Michael!

1960 Brantford Red Sox: Franklin is standing second from the right in the back row. Photo and other info regarding his time in Ontario can be found at http://attheplate.com/wcbl/index.html

The Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) has begun gathering authors to work on a new book project: The End of an Era: The 1948 Homestead Grays, Birmingham Black Barons, and the Last Negro League World Series. The volume will contain player, manager, owner, and stadium biographies, as well as articles about that season’s two East-West All-Star Games, the NAL and NNL playoffs, and the historic last Negro League World Series. One of the biographies will be on Luther Franklin Clifford, Jr., great grandson of Isaac Clifford and Elizabeth Jane Redman and son of Luther F. Clifford and Effie Barnes.

Known as Franklin to the family, in baseball he was known as Shanty Clifford, who played for the Homestead Grays and Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro League and later for Galt/Cambridge Terriers and Brantford Red Sox in the Intercounty Baseball League in Ontario, Canada.

Franklin was also mentioned in A Sporting Chance: Achievements in African-American Atheletes by William Humber. There is even a photo of him rounding the bases while playing in the Dominican Republic. A Sporting Chance is available on Google Books and Franklin is mentioned on pages 57 - 59.

The book will more than likely be out some time in 2017. We look forward to seeing the story of our cousin in print!

Thomas S. Bruce, 71 of Hillcrest Heights, MD passed away at Washington Hospital Center on May 25.

The son of the late Isiah and Mary (Howard) Bruce, Steve was born in Medley WV on July 21, 1945. He was proceeded in death by two sisters, Rosa Hollingsworth and Evelyn Thomas, and four brothers, Virgil, Ashton, Milford, and James Bruce.

After graduating from Petersburg High School, Steve attended Shepherd College and later attended DC Teachers College where he graduated in 1973. In 1977 he earned a Master’s degree from the University of District of Columbia.

Steve was employed by the US Postal Service, and later by the DC Police Force, where he retired.  After retirement from the police force, Steve worked for the US Marshalls' Service. During the dedication ceremony of the E. Barrett Prettyyman Courthouse, Steve was awarded a certificate of appreciation for outstanding service. He was a member of the Iverson Mall Walkers and a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church.
Steve is survived by his former wife and good friend Margo Bruce of Ft. Washington, MD; one daughter, Sabrena Bruce of Ft. Washington, MD; two sons, Thomas S Bruce Jr (wife Olga) of Upper Marlboro, MD, Shaun Bruce  of Temple Hills, MD; four grandchildren, Isaiah Bruce, Lauren Bruce, Joshua Mason, Logan Furtelli; two brothers, Marvin Bruce (wife Cheryl) of Mitchellville, MD and Ernest Bruce of Columbus, OH; one sister Frances Mabin (husband Ray) of Keyser WV; and a host of friends and relatives.

 

Age 84, of Clairton, Pennsylvania, died Wednesday, March 9, 2016, at home. Born June 25, 1931, in Clairton, daughter of the late James Ward and Maude (Payne) Clifford; also preceded in death by her daughter, Lori Perry. Graduate of Clairton High School, former member of First AME Church, Clairton, Shelby Chapter 59 O.E.S. and Women's Auxiliary James Roster Post 817 American Legion. First African American sales clerk at local Skapik's department store and also worked as a Dispatcher for the Penn Cab Company. Surviving are daughter, Cynthia Lynne Perry of Clairton; two grandsons, Tech. Sgt. Edward Johnson III of Weisbauden, Germany and Tyler Williams of Penn Hills; sister, Lucretia Brooks and brother, Phillip Clifford both of Clairton; other relatives. Friends will be received Monday, March 14, 2016, from 4-8 p.m. at the ROBERT A. WATERS FUNERAL HOME, INC., 449 Mitchell Ave., Clairton, where funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Jessie Brooks officiating. Interment will follow in the Round Hill Cemetery, Elizabeth, PA. Published in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on March 12, 2016.

Stolen from Danny's South Branch BBQ Company LLC Facebook page...can't wait to try the ribs!

In March 2015, cousin Daniel Sterns opened the South Branch BBQ Company. Check out the company's Facebook page and you'll see Danny is getting rave reviews. If you're heading to Moorefield, you can find him at 712 north Main Street, beside the KFC. If you are attending the 2016 reunion, you are in for a treat! Danny will will selling his delicious BBQ at the Saturday picnic. It's a great way to support a business owned by our family as well as get some great BBQ.

Joyce Wormack has something cooking, and we bet it's tasty. Congrats to cousin Joyce on her catering business TLC Catering, service Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania! She is also working on plans for a restaurant spot. 

Arthur P. Clifford 66, of Murphy St. in Piedmont, WV died in the loving arms of his sister at his residence on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015.
He was born on Jan. 17, 1949 in Keyser, WV and was the son of the late John Lester Clifford and Arizona (Redman) Clifford. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine Johnson and two children, Betrice & Two, and one sister, Dorothy Lester
He was a 1967 graduate of Piedmont High where he was an outstanding basketball player. He served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam from May of 1969 to May 1970. He was a member of Washington-Smith Post 152 American Legion in Keyser, WV and Kelley-Mansfield Post 52, American Legion in Piedmont, WV. He worked at Anchor Glass and Lumber and Things in Keyser, WV.

He is survived by one son, Rafael Clifford of Cumberland, MD and two sisters; Rosalie Twyman of Piedmont, WV and Donna Jean Mobley of Philadelphia, PA, and one brother, Lester "Skip" Clifford of Piedmont, WV, his grandchildren, Demeka, Isaiah, and Alivia; and several nieces and nephews and many friends.

A funeral service was held on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015 at the First Assembly of God Church in Westernport, MD, at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Greg Hammond and Rev. David Coleman officiating. Interment was in Restlawn Memorial Gardens in LaVale, MD.