Clifton Body

Clifton E. Body was born January 7, 1967 in Canton, Mississippi to the late William Body and Annie Margaret Body. Clifton was the 11th child, and the baby boy of 12 children. On March 3, 2022, the Lord invited him to rest in eternal peace and comfort in heavenly paradise.

Clifton, commonly known as Maince, accepted Christ at a very young age and was baptized at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church at around 9 years old under the leadership of the late Dr./Rev. R.B. Harris. Clifton was an active member of New Bethel partaking in roles as a junior deacon, Red Circle member (a church community service group), choir member, and even a Sunday School teacher. He attended Canton High School, graduating with the class of 1984. He moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1990 acquiring a supervisor position at the Ritz Carlton where he worked for many years following the birth of his first child, Tya, In September of 1999, and a happy marriage to his wife, Renona, in September of 2000.

Clifton was very thoughtful and caring. He loved to be outside on the porch playing music, watching the cars pass by, and feeding the birds. He also had an extra soft spot for children. He loved children so much that when his daughter, Tya, was young he would overjoy her and her neighborhood friends with water and popsicles on very hot days, and sometimes even little weenie roasts and long, silly conversations. When Tya became old enough to bear his first grandchild, Kellen Johnson II (KJ), Clifton nominated him as the first honorary member of the “Owlpack”, (their club name). In his final year before seeking glory, his KJ became a new reason to keep fighting for breath.

Clifton will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Renona Crutcher of Kansas City, Missouri (KCMO); one daughter, Tya Body of KCMO; one stepson, Andrew Crutcher of KCMO, one grandson, Kellen Johnson of KCMO; four (4) sisters, Carolyn (Frederick) Forde of Pleasant Valley, Missouri, Cynthia (Daniel) O’Quinn of Dallas, Texas, Bessie Smith of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Rosetta (Monroe) Thompson of Chicago, Illinois; six (6) brothers, Reverend Edward (Brenda) Lewis of Kansas City, Kansas Eugene Mitchell and Angra Lewis of Canton, Mississippi, Thomas Mitchell of Chicago, Illinois, Jessie Mitchell of Detroit, Michigan, and Robert (Dell) Body of New Orleans, Louisiana. Many fond memories will also be cherished by his neighbors and his closest friends. He was preceded in death by his father, William Body, mother, Annie Margaret Body, three brothers: John Earl White, Willie Mitchell, and Joseph Lewis and his two sisters, Gloria Jean Mitchell and Christine Mitchell.