Dr. Clyde Stockton

Dr. Clyde Stockton COLUMBIA - Funeral services for Dr. Clyde Stockton, D.D.S., 68, of 216 Trentwood Dr., Columbia, S.C. will be held on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at First Calvary Baptist Church 1401 Pine St. with the burial will be held in Dixie County Memorial Cemetery, Cross City, Fla. Visitation will be held in the Chapel of Pearson's Funeral Home on Monday, December 17, 2012 from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Dr. Stockton will lie in repose from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m the day of service. Services entrusted to the staff of Pearson's Funeral Home. Clyde Stockton was one of six children born to Lucille and Raleigh Stockton. Born September 30, 1944 in Perry, Florida, Clyde had a twin brother, Cleveland, born a few seconds earlier. The twins spent their early years in Cross City, Florida under the watchful tutelage of their maternal grandparents who molded the pair and taught them the many lessons that guided Clyde throughout his life. His mother, Lucille, continued this tradition when Clyde and his brother left Cross City and the family moved north, first to New York, then to Connecticut. Clyde learned his lessons well. His first years were spent at the Dixie County Training School. His teacher, Mrs. Oliver, lived with the twins and their grandparents. After elementary school, Clyde and Cleveland moved north and completed their secondary education at Hillhouse High School where Clyde distinguished himself as an outstanding baseball player. He had many lucrative offers from professional teams, but his mother resisted the many tempting offers, for she was determined that Clyde have the opportunity to attend college. He began as a student at HOward University in the Fall of 1962. At Howard, Clyde became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and for a while, he played on the baseball team. It was later that he met Wilatrel Freeman, and they became a pair in 1964. During his time at Howard, Clyde worded for Senator Abraham Ribicoff who was instrumental in obtaining several military deferments for him, but after the third draft notice, Clyde joined the army where he distinguished himself as an outstanding leader. He attended Officers' Candidate School at Fort Knox, Kentucky and graduated in February of 1968. One week after graduation, Clyde and Wilatrel were married in a beautiful church service in St Louis. In June, the newlyweds went to Germany where Clyde was stationed for eighteen months. In December 1970, Clyde was released from active military duty, and he and Wilatrel returned to Washington, DC. Clyde entered Howard University College of Dentistry in 1971, and graduated in 1975 as president of his calss. This was an exciting time for Clyde because it was during this time that he became a father. Little Ruges entered his life on June 7, 1975. Clyde embraced fatherhood with the calm intensity with which he embraced all of the important challenges of his life. He was a wonderful father, a proud and doting one. One month later, Clyde and Wilatrel made Columbia, South Carolina their home. Clyde established a solo dental practice, but soon joined Dr. Noble Cooper, and the two praticed together amicably for approximately fifteen years. Once again, Clyde struck out on his own, and established a solo practice. Ruges followed in his fathers' footsteps, completed dental school, returned to Columbia, entered into practice with his father and pledged Alpha Phi Alpha. This was a particularly happy time for Clyde. Clyde Stockton was a believer. He believed in the Lord. He believed in the goodness of people. He believed in karma, that what one does, good or bad, comes back to you. Clyde Stockton was a giver. He gave without the expectation of anything in return. Clyde Stockton was a lover. He loved life and he lived it to the fullest. He loved his family and he always put them first. He loved his friends, and they loved him. He loved dentistry and he loved his patients, for he treated them with the geniune kindness and respect that he felt they deserved. He loved golf and he was a great player. He loved the Guardsmen, his favorite organization. Besides The Guardsmen, Clyde Stockton was a member of Alpha lota Boule. For many years, he was a very active member of the Congaree Medical, Dental and Pharmaceutical Association and the Palmetto Medical, Dental and Pharmaceutical Association, and in 1994, was named Doctor of the Year. He was a member of the Dental Association and American Dental Association. He was a member of the Academy of General Dentistry. He was a member of the board of the Business Development Corporation and a member of the board of the Richland County Recreation Commission. During his entire life, Clyde Stockton did his best. He often reminded his wife and his son of the many lessons he learned from his mother and from his grandparents. Most often the lessons dealt with the treatment of others. Clyde Stockton was a good man. He never met a stranger and all who knew him were touched by his grace, his charm, and his generosity. Someone recently said, "If you needed the shirt off his back, he'd take off his shirt and give it to you." Clyde Stockton will be truly missed but his leaves a legacy of love and faith. He leaves to mourn his passing: his wife, Wilatrel Stockton; his son, Dr. Ruges Stockton, his mother, Lucille Stockton and his twin brother, Cleveland Stockton, both of Cross City, Florida; his brother, Raleigh Stockton of Palm Coast, Florida; and his brother, William Stockton of Neward, New Jersey; many loving nieces and nephews; a caring and loyal staff; and a host of friends.