DR. JOSEPH WILLIAM CLIFT

JOSEPH WILLIAM CLIFT, M.D. APRIL 4, 1938 - AUGUST 9. 2026

Dr. Joseph William Clift was born in Patoka (Gibson County), Indiana. His parents were Cecil William and Mary Esther Bell (Lucas) Clift, both Gibson County natives.

His roots there included his grandparents, Harley and Florence (Ellis) Lucas, and William H. and Lola B. (Kelley) Clift.

His early schooling was in Patoka and then in Tuskegee, Alabama. In 1952, the family moved to Hawkins, Texas, where he completed his last three years of high school, graduating from Hawkins Colored High School in 1955.

In addition to achieving academically, he was especially active in tennis, winning trophies in interstate competitions, and has fond memories playing in the same tournament as a young Arthur Ashe.

He received a B.S. degree in Pharmacy from Texas Southern University in Houston and an M.D. degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. He served two years in the US Air Force Medical Corps at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, as a Captain and Chief of the General Medical Clinic.

Upon completion of his Air Force service, he received a commendation which reads:

“Dr. Clift consistently displayed superior professional skill, knowledge, and leadership. . . [He] consistently maintained exceptionally high standards of medical care.”

Prior to going into private practice in 1971, he had been named Outstanding Medical Resident at Highland General Hospital, the location of his medical practice and primary affiliation.

He was a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine. Over the span of his career, he served as president of many organizations: the Highland General Hospital Medical Staff, the Samuel Merritt Hospital Medical Staff, the East Bay Society of Internal Medicine, the Alameda Contra Costa Medical Association, and the California Society of Internal Medicine. He was a delegate to the California Medical Association and to the American Medical Association. He wrote articles published in The California Internist, the Alameda Contra Costa Medical Bulletin, and the Oakland Tribune.

After he closed his private practice in 2003, he was employed for twelve years by the State of California in the Department of State Disability.

He was a sixty-nine year member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and a forty-one year member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (Alpha Gamma Boule), an African American fraternal group promoting excellence and education.

During his medical career, he often volunteered his time at free clinics.

“Joe,” as he was called by siblings and “Joseph” by his spouse, had a lively wit and unflappable positive spirit and determination.

He and his wife, Earlyne (Rand) Manigault Clift, shared deep contentment and happiness throughout their lives together. They were married for 27 years, and she preceded him in death within a week of his own passing.

He had become a widower in 1998 upon the death of his first wife, Ulyssine (Gibson) Clift, to whom he had been married for 35 years.

He is survived by his daughter, Nathalie Louise Clift; his sisters Dr. Arlene L. Clift Pellow (Dr. David W.H.Pellow) and Myra C. Clift; his brother Cecil W. Clift and devoted friend Phillip Reese.

Other survivors include special cousins Musetta Perkins (99 years of age) and her daughters, Saundra Perkins, Johnetta Posey, Rosalyn Perkins and their families; and Najwa (Dan) Adra.

He was blessed to have children by marriage in the Manigault family: stepdaughter Tiffany Manigault (and her children [Giovanni (Gabrielle) and Matteo], and stepsons Dr. Terrence Manigault and Troy (Sabrina) Manigault (and their children, Xavier and Kiersten).

His extended family of survivors includes Alexander D. G. Pellow, Dr. David Naguib Pellow (Dr. Sun-Hee Lisa Park), Jamal (Shanna) Gabriel, and their families.

Our family has been greatly comforted by the many condolence calls, words of comfort, and prayers during this most difficult time.

A private memorial celebration will be held at a later date.

The family suggests contributing to the organization(s) of your choice in memory of Joseph and Earlyne.