Clifton Russell Caldwell, Sr., 91 passed away, Thursday, March 23, 2017, at Baptist Memorial Hospital – Golden Triangle, Columbus, MS.

Visitation will be Tuesday, March 28, 2017, from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM at Lowndes Funeral Home, Columbus, MS.  A funeral service will follow in the Lowndes Funeral Home chapel with Bro. Sammy Crawford officiating.  Interment will be in Friendship Cemetery, Columbus, MS with Lowndes Funeral Home directing.

Mr. Caldwell was born November 24, 1925, to the late Charlie and Beulah Russell Caldwell in Ecru, MS.  He was a Navy veteran of World War II and served in the Pacific Campaign.  Mr. Caldwell retired from Johnson Tombigbee where he was the maintenance supervisor for 15 years. He married Thelma Holcomb Caldwell in May 1947 and was a member of Fairview Baptist Church, Columbus, MS.  Mr. Caldwell was Scout Master for Boy Scouts Troup 1; he joined the Mason Lodge in Columbus, MS  in 1955 and the Hamasa Shriners in 1964 where he was a member of the Blue Lodge and President in 2001.  After retirement, Mr. & Mrs. Caldwell enjoyed camping and square dancing together.  He loved hunting and carrying his grandchildren fishing.  Mr. Caldwell was an Ole Miss Rebel fan.  In addition to his parents, Mr. Caldwell was preceded in death by his wife – Thelma Holcomb Caldwell;  sisters – Ruby Dunlap, Anna Stokes, Mildred Bray, and Estelle May; brothers – Troy Caldwell and Charles T. Caldwell.

Mr. Caldwell was survived by his sons - Clifton Russell (Anita) Caldwell, Jr., Columbus, MS and Theron Allen (Denise) Caldwell, Sr.; 4 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Allen Caldwell, Drew Davis, Justin Caldwell, Shane Floyd, Mark Williams, and Dr. David Curtis. Honorary pallbearers will be Hamasa Shriners Temple.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, 815 Market Street, Galveston, TX  77550.