Mary Helen Knight Clifton 88, passed away Monday, March 8,2021. Mrs. Clifton was born on February 23 , 1933 in Henderson, N 0rth Carolina to the late Julius L . Knight and Mary F . Knight . Helen was a 1950 graduate of Henderson Institute and a 1954 graduate of North Carolina College at Durham (NCCU).

Mary Helen was a dedicated math teacher for 38 years where she taught in Pender County Schools , Warren County Schools , Guilford County Schools, and Winston-Salem / Forsyth County Schools where she retired in 1992 having taught math and served as an assistant principal at West Forsyth High School . Mrs. Clifton also coached high-school girls ' basketball when she worked in Warren County .

Ma r y Helen was a member of Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Inc. (Alpha Upsilon Chapter) where she se r ved as a longtime treasurer and as president; a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (Winston-Salem Alumnae Chapter), and a member Winston - Salem Alumni Chapter of the NCCU Alumni Association . She was also a
member of Dellabrook Presbyterian Church where she served as a member of the Chancel Choir and was the Clerk of Session in the early 1980s.

Preceding Mary Helen in death were her husband, Charlie L . Clifton ; her father, Julius L . Knight; her mother , Mary F . Knight; her brothers , Clarence V . Knight and Julius F . Knight , Sr.; and her sisters, Virginia K. Butler and Agnes K . Royster.

She is survived by her son, Charles A . Clifton of Durham , North Carolina ; her
broth e r, Alphonso W. Kni g ht , Sr. of Hampton, V i rgin i a ; two sisters-in-law, Carnelle B . Clift o n of Fo r t Pierce , Florida and Christine C . Dixon of Douglasville , Georgia; one brother-in-law, Sandy L . Royster of Aurora , lIIinois ; and a host of nieces, nephews , and friends .

In lieu of flowers , the family requests that donations be sent to the Partners with Youth Program at the Winston Lake Fam i ly YMCA, 901 Waterworks Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27101 or the Charlie L . Clifton Scholarship Fund at Dellabrook Presbyterian Church , 115 Dellabrook Road , Winston Salem , NC 27105.

A public viewing will be held Friday March 12,2021 from 12pm-6pm at Hooper Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held 12:00 noon Saturday March 13, 2021 at Piedmont Memorial Gardens.