Clifford Sidney Hewitt, JR.

Clifford Sidney Hewitt, Jr. was born on 09/23/1941, at Emory in Atlanta, Ga. He was the oldest child and only son of Millie Janet Wardlaw Hewitt and Clifford S. Hewitt, Sr. His childhood was spent in Pensacola, Fla.; Lost Mountain, Ga.; and near Springvale, Ga. Later the family lived in Thomasville, Ga., and he finished high school in Jennings, Fla. Cliff grew up helping with many tasks involved in farming and raising cattle. One summer at age 17, he supervised a crew of cucumber packers twice his age!

While attending Berry. College in Rome, Georgia, Cliff was very active in student government and civil rights activities. He performed in numerous plays, sang with the Berry Choir and Berry Singers, and did Messiah solos each year. On his first day at Berry Cliff met Sarah Doris Woodruff from Sycamore, Ga. They dated throughout college and married on August 11, 1963 at Sycamore Baptist Church in Sycamore, Ga. They spent over 50 years together, until Cliffs death. After college Cliff and Sarah moved to Tallahassee, Florida where he obtained a Masters in administration. He became a deacon at Tallahassee First Baptist and was the director of a large church coffee house, To Potarian. Over the next years Cliff worked in a number of personnel positions, including such work for the Fla. Merit System, St. Andrews College in N.C., and the Ga. Department of Transportation. Meanwhile, he served as Director of Music for Laurel Hill Baptist Church in N.C., Interim Music Director at Conley Baptist, and as Director of Music and Education at Calvary Baptist Church in Forest Park, Georgia.

In 1977 Cliff left government work to establish and serve as Administrator of Cross Keys Counseling Center, also in Forest Park, Georgia. His goal was to integrate Christian counseling services with related areas such as mediation and financial management. He was able to accomplish this mission in part, and at one time Cross Keys had five locations scattered around the periphery of Metro Atlanta. In 2001 Cliff was instrumental in developing what later became the Worthy Counseling Clinic. This clinic provided mental health services to the indigent and uninsured, working closely with Good Shepherd Medical Clinic in Morrow. Still functioning, it is now located at Cross Keys' office on Main St. in Forest Park. With the financial assistance of Cross Keys Ministries, a small non-profit group, Cross Keys has served thousands and has helped train over 60 counselors and psychologists. As Cliffs health gradually forced him to give up his involvement in Cross Keys, Sarah took over his responsibilities.

Cliff enjoyed reading, especially about history. Most of all he enjoyed telling stories, meeting people, and cheering people with his honest and uncanny sense of humor. He was a faithful member of several Baptist churches throughout his life, with his last membership being at First Baptist Church of Morrow, Georgia. His greatest achievement in life had nothing to do with the jobs he held or the positions he filled in churches, but rather the personal, one-on-one relationships he initiated and maintained with people he encountered in daily life. His goal was to help others through his care, concern, humor, and music. He loved and related to people whom many shunned or feared. He believed that by sharing Christ's love in small but consistent ways, his life would not be lived in vain.
Cliff is survived by his wife "Sarah D" of Conley, Ga; his daughter Deborah Hewitt Koch (Terrence Virgil Koch) of Winter Park, Fla.; his son David Elliott Hewitt (Crystal Dexter Hewitt) of Hoschton, Ga; three step-grandchildren: Hailey Dexter and Andrew and Sophia Koch; and his only sibling, Glenda Louise Fowler Whiddon. He is also survived by several very special aunts and several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive visitors at Scroggs Funeral Home in Morrow on Thur., 2/13 from 5pm to 8pm. The funeral will be held at Morrow First Baptist Church on Fri. 2/14 at l1am. A brief graveside service and interment will held Sat. 2/15, 2pm at Rose Hill Cemetery in Ashburn, Ga. For more information you may contact Scroggs Funeral Home at 770-961-2828 or Perry Funeral Chapel in Ashburn at 229-567-3366.

The family offers special thanks to the many friends and healthcare professionals who have helped with Cliffs transition from life with his family and community to life with his heavenly Father. In lieu of flowers, please send your donation to Atlanta Union Mission, Heifer Foundation, or Cross Keys Ministries.