Clifford Lee Brinson

Clifford Lee Brinson, born on March 5, 1935, to Charlie and Mary Brinson in Omega, Georgia, passed away after a life of dedicated service, learning, and community involvement. He was one of eight children, having four brothers and three sisters.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 AM, Friday, August 22, 2025 at St. Mary’s Road United Methodist Church, 3993 St Mary’s Rd, Columbus, GA 31907. The family will receive friends for visitation from 5:00-7:00 PM, Thursday, August 21, 2025 at McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907. Interment will be held Ft. Mitchell National Cemetery following the services.

Cliff received his early education in the Colquitt County public school system, graduating from Moultrie High School for Negro Youth in 1953. He briefly pursued pre-veterinary medicine at Tuskegee Institute before embarking on a distinguished military career in the United States Air Force, enlisting in September 1954.

During his exemplary service, he was stationed at various bases, including Turner Air Force Base in Albany, Georgia and Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas. While at Turner Air Force Base, he met and fell in love with Johnnie Mae Burch. They were married in Sumner, Georgia, on July 29, 1962, after his return from Wiesbaden Air Base, Germany. They later welcomed two daughters, Andrea and Gloria, into their lives.

His military assignments also included Patrick Air Force Base in Cocoa Beach, Florida; the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.; Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio; Keflavik Air Base in Iceland; and Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. His final assignment was at Ft. Benning, where he served as the Air Force representative to the Infantry School. He retired with honor from the Air Force on February 1, 1982, holding the rank of Senior Master Sergeant after more than 27 years of service.

While on active duty, Cliff pursued higher education, taking courses at the University of Maryland, Saint Leo College, and Troy State University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science in 1981, graduating cum laude. He continued his academic pursuits after retirement, receiving a Master of Education degree from Georgia State University in 1983.

Following his military career, he dedicated himself to serving others as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the State Department of Human Resources until his second retirement in June 1998. He has since enjoyed what he called “just living the good life.”

Cliff was a devout and active member of the church throughout his life. He was a member of ML Harris UMC since 1978 and held numerous positions, including finance chair and trustee, and was the treasurer since 2000. He was also a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and a member of the American Legion and 837 Social Club. His professional affiliations included the Georgia Rehabilitation Counseling Association, the Georgia Rehabilitation West Georgia subchapter, the Georgia Council of the Blind, and the National Rehabilitation Association, where he served as district representative. He also worked with the Defense Intelligence Agency.

In his leisure time, Cliff enjoyed traveling, fishing, and sightseeing. His favorite places were the beaches of Destin, Florida and the Colorado mountains. He was also an avid gardener, enjoying the fruits of his labor in the summer and winter. His grandchildren were his crowning glory. They lovingly called him “Coco,” and he poured into each of them his values of integrity, education, love of family, and most importantly, God.

Cliff is preceded in death by the bride of his youth, Johnnie; parents, Charles and Mary Brinson; brothers, Charles Brinson Jr. (Fanny), Willie C. Brinson (Alma), Robert Brinson (Ruth), Frank Brinson (Marvolene); and sisters Rosa Powell, Kathryn Byrd, and Beatrice Jackson.

He is survived by daughters, Andrea Winston of Columbus, GA, Gloria Harris (Dave) of Opelika, AL, and Kimberly Harvell of Shreveport, LA; sons, Byron Hickey (Sandra) of Columbus, GA, and Darron Burch of Columbus, GA; grandsons, Roderick Winston, Jr. of Columbus, GA, Joshua Winston of Atlanta, GA, Brinson Harris of Opelika, AL, and Burch Harris of Opelika, AL; granddaughters, Jasmine Winston of Columbus, GA, Sydney Winston of Kennesaw, GA, Holly Hudson (Kevin) of Lilburn, GA, and Braxton Harris of Birmingham, AL; 10 great grandchildren, God Daughter Sharon Miller of Atlanta GA, and a host of extended family members and close friends.