Clifton Evans Ragland

View Funeral WebcastClifton Evans Ragland, retired from AT & T and resident of Pleasant Drive, passed away Monday, February 2, 2009 at Alive Hospice of Nashville. A celebration of his life will be conducted Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols with Rev. Pete Tackett and Rev. Mike Dawson officiating. Burial will be in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 2790 Pulaski Highway, Columbia 38401 or to the American Diabetes Association, 4205 Hillsboro Road, Suite 200, Nashville, 37215-3339. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com. Born in Robertson County, he was the son of the late Will J. Ragland and Edna Smith Ragland. He served his country during World War II in the U. S. Army with tours of duty in Europe and in the Pacific attached to the First Army. June 17, 1940 he married the former Dorothy Benton. He was a wonderful and loving husband who nurtured his wife of 61 years during her extended illness and until her death November 8, 2001. Mr. Ragland was an employee of South Central Bell Telephone Company and AT & T for over 40 years and served as Supervisor in the Central Office at his retirement. For many years, he was an active member of First Baptist Church and served as a Deacon for several terms. He was a member of Telephone Pioneers, president of the Speakers Bureau, Civitan Club of Columbia, and Lions Club of Dickson. Survivors include a daughter, Pamela Ragland Laird of Nashville; a son, Edward Benton (Toni) Ragland of Columbia; grandchildren, Robert Harold (Christine) Laird, Jr. of Nashville, Kate McGinnis Ragland and Joshua Benton Ragland of Cookeville; great-grandchildren, Benton Thomas Laird and Cate Evans Laird; a sister, Mildred Townley of Goodlettsville; a brother, Billy Ragland of Old Hickory. He was preceded in death by a sister, Ethel Strother and a brother, Freeman Ragland. Deacons of First Baptist Church will serve as active pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Telephone Pioneers.