Clifford (Cliff) Lee Naylor

June 22, 1962 – May 13, 2023

Clifford Lee Naylor was born, June 22, 1962, in Oceanside, California, to the union of Hughie B. Naylor and the Pearlie Faye (Roy) Sneed.

He accepted Christ as his personal savior at an early age, and along with his parents and siblings, one brother and two sisters, became active members at the St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Oceanside, California under the leadership of the late Rev. Davis. While at St. John, he worked on the junior usher board and sang with the youth choir, which has remained consistent throughout his life as he served at St John. 

He attended school in the Oceanside Unified School district for most his childhood years and until he relocated to E. St Louis, Illinois, where he graduated from the E. St. Louis Sr. High School. After graduating high school, he immediately began working as a retail sales associate in Fairview Heights, Illinois until he went on to pursue a career in Cosmetology. He enrolled at the Academy of Beauty Culture, in Belleville, Illinois where he completed his professional training. After passing the state board in the state of Illinois, he immediately went to work at JC Penny Salons and rose to the top very quickly as one of the salon’s lead stylists and team lead.

In 1993, Cliff relocated to Dallas, TX to be close to his grandmother, the late Susie V. Fields Reddic, as well as a host of other family members. In 1994, he united with the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. C. W. Wallace where he served as an active member of the Gooden-Prince Choir. After a fourteen-year membership at the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, Cliff moved his membership over to the Riverside Missionary Baptist Church where he joined under the late S. T. Tutson. After Pastor Tutson was called home, he continued to serve under, Pastor Ralph Whitehead, the current pastor/teacher where he found opportunities to work in the capacity of aiding and helping the Pastor and First Lady at Riverside, whenever possible. He served in the Mighty Men of Riverside—the male chorus as the President for many years, and on Usher Board 3 as the President for a number of years in addition to the Pastor’s and Wife’s anniversary committee. Cliff held several hobbies over his lifetime and traveled extensively and was an avid cruiser—and has taken 20+ cruises. Bro. Naylor enjoyed cooking and sharing his own recipes with his family and friends, as well as entertaining those he loved. He served in capacities to ensure people in need, did not go without. Of his many passions, he enjoyed watching and helping young people succeed through gaining the necessary tools and knowledge to become successful in life.

Cliff was preceded in death by his father Hughie Naylor, mother, Pearlie Naylor, his only biological brother, two aunts, one uncle, one cousin (Linda Myrick, a dear friend and stepmother, Ella B. Rice and all four grandparents.

He leaves to cherish his memory, one devoted son, Tyrone Naylor, two godsons, Kevin Betts (Dallas, TX) and Jerome Clark (ATL, GA); two sisters, Debra Gibson (ATL, GA) and Vickey Bradley (ATL, GA); two nephews, Myron P Naylor Jr. (Sacramento, CA) and Curtis Bradley III (Oakland, CA); two nieces, Bryana Bradley (Oakland, CA) and Stephenie Naylor (Milpitas, CA); four great nieces, Jamica Dowell- Johnson (St. Louis, MO), Candice Dowell- Jones (St. Louis, MO), Sanaiyah Foster, (Milpitas, CA); one great nephew, Cory Dowell (St. Louis, MO); two nephews, Jeaden Underwood (Milpitas, CA) and Baby Demar (Milpitas, CA); six sisters in love, JoSezettea Keeton, Wende Hutchins, Barbra, Genoa Vaughn, Shannon Young and Adrian Alexander; two brothers in love, Darnell Harris (Dallas, TX) and Fred Cherry (Chicago, IL) and a host of cousins—including the entire Freeney and French family, and a host of other relatives and friends as well as other extended family members. He shared a bond with his son and family much like his grandmother the late Susie V Fields-Reddic.