Clifford Sanford, Jr.

Clifford Weldon Sanford, Jr., 89, beloved husband of Anne Leah Register Sanford for 66 years, passed away peacefully with family by his side on Thursday, July 27, 2017 at Twin Lakes Community Healthcare.
Cliff was born on February 14, 1928 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama to the late Clifford W. Sanford, Sr. and Thelma Van Syckle Sanford. As a nurse/educator, Thelma taught him the meaning of hard work, compassion, and commitment to family; values that would resonate throughout his personal and professional life.
Cliff had a strong passion for music, beginning the development his talents as a trumpeter at age 8. He later served as drum major at the University of Alabama, Technical Sergeant/Instructor at the U.S. Army Band Training Center, drum major at Auburn University, and frequent performer of sacred music at Binkley Baptist Church in Chapel Hill, N.C. Cliff may be one of the few people ever to perform with both the Alabama and Auburn bands in two separate Sugar Bowls!
As a 1951 graduate of Auburn University with a B.S. in Agricultural Science, he immediately applied his knowledge and skill at Koinonia Farm in Americus Georgia, a Christian farming community that sought to bridge systemic racial and religious boundaries. Cliff's commitment to fairness and faith led him to face head-on the challenges associated with life in the mid-century south.
Cliff then turned his attention to the position of Farm Director at Ethel-Harpst Children's Home in Cedartown Georgia. This was a pivotal and transformative period where his life of service blossomed. At just 23 years old, he and Anne provided a home for 13-yr. old twin boys (Larry and Jerry), started their own family, and discovered their passion for work with children.
During a brief period of employment at the Georgia Baptist Children's Home in Hapeville, Georgia he again witnessed firsthand the plight of children who came from unimaginable life circumstances. Seeking to be more involved with day-to-day casework, Cliff and his family moved to Louisville, KY, where he completed a post-graduate degree at The Carver School of Missions and Social Work. This course of study led to his employment at Salem Baptist Children's Home in Salem, VA, where he served as a case worker and family counselor. It was here that he became a pioneer and adamant proponent of the theory and practice of Childcare as a Family Service, later co-authoring a book on this topic. His fascination with this concept, in combination with a desire to have a broader impact on the principles, practices, and strategies within child care institutions, led to the completion of a Master's of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was immediately hired by UNC-CH as a consultant with faculty status and later served as Director of Group Child Care Consultant Services, a UNC-CH affiliated organization that sought to assist Children's Homes and Orphanages throughout the country.
Following his retirement from UNC-CH, he served as Vice President of Development for Lutheran Family Services, where his work focused primarily on facilitating the resettlement of the largest population of Montagnards outside of Southeast Asia.
Throughout Cliff and Anne's many travels world-wide, he could frequently be found exploring the streets of each new community, meeting people and seeking to reach across cultural and ethnic boundaries. He knew no strangers, had an endless curiosity for learning, and believed that he could establish connections based on the premise that we are all human beings.
In their retirement, Cliff and Anne spent 20 years building and enjoying their beautiful cabin in the mountains. Their handiwork, creativity, and keen design sensibilities resulted in the construction of a treasured home that is full of family memories.
Cliff's greatest legacy is his large and loving family. We will miss his infectious smile, generous spirit, interesting stories, and genuine love of each and every family member. Whether newborn or senior citizen, he was deeply fascinated by each person's journey. Cliff was predeceased by his son Jerry. He is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years Anne Leah Sanford; daughter-in-law Jean; son Larry (Rhonda); son Steven (Debbie); son Michael (Anne); son David (Lola); daughter Susan (Foster); grandchildren Laura, Jody, Cristi, Monica, Jamie, Kelly, Mandy, Julie, Jeanie, Kimberly, Kristie, Mitch, Luke, Emily, Trey and Jordan; great-grandchildren Riley, Jordan, Taylor, Jonathan, Jacob, Hannah, Haley, Macey, Elysa, Kalyn, Abigail, Cohen, Cannon, Cliff, and Kai.
The family would like to express their deep and abiding appreciation to UNC Hospital and to the caregiving teams that helped our beloved throughout his prolonged battle with cancer. A special thanks goes to the incredibly kind and compassionate caregivers of the Lakewood Healthcare wing at Twin Lakes and to Hospice of Alamance County. You brought dignity, respect, a gentle touch, and kindness to his final days, you are truly angels.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00pm on August 19, 2017 in the Foley Chapel in the Coble Health Care Center, Twin Lakes Community, Burlington, NC, with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Cliff to the: Twin Lakes Auxiliary Scholarship Program, Twin Lakes Community, 3701 Wade Coble Dr., Burlington, NC. This organization provides financial support for post-secondary education to dependents of Twin Lakes staff.
You may sign the online register book at www.lowefuneralhome.com

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