Cleo Clifton Baxter

Cleo Clifton Baxter, age 82, was born on April 5, 1943, near Friendship Baptist Church to Cleo and Audrey Frances Ham Baxter. He passed away at Seminole Manor Nursing Home on April 27, 2025.

Visitation and funeral services will be held at Friendship Baptist Church on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Visitation will be held from 1:00 PM CST to 2:00 PM CST at the church with funeral services to follow at 2:00 PM CST with Rev. Michael John Carr, Rev. Steven Welch and his son Jacob “Cobb” Baxter officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Joshua Carr, Doug Powell, Max Harkrider, Jack Segrest, Lamar Ham and D. J. Strong serving as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, Clifton requested that donations are made to the cemetery fund of Spring Creek Baptist Church.

Clifton worked as assistant manager of the IGA in Malone for over twenty years followed by twenty years at Sunland Training Center. He was part owner with his late brother Lynwood, and nephew Jim Bob of Baxter Farms and Triple J Herefords. He served stateside during the Vietnam War in the US Army and Alabama National Guard.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife of 41 years Dorothy Jean Harrell Baxter, special friend Judy Brown, miscarried granddaughter Shelby Eleana Baxter, brother Harold Lynwood Baxter, and numerous beloved dogs all named Luckie.

He is survived by his sons, Jeff Aaron Baxter and fiancé Janet Lynn Ivey, and Jacob Harrell “Cobb” Baxter, grandkitty Joe Exotic, honorary son and caregiver Calvin Brelove, sister-in-law Carolyn Harris Baxter, niece Carol Lynn Carr and her husband Michael John and children Caleb and Joshua and his wife Halee, and nephew Jim Bob Baxter and his wife Heather and children Ethan and Emma all of Malone, and special friends and former co-workers Julie Jackson and Kenny Grantham.

Clifton loved Yoohoo chocolate drinks, Little Debbie snacks, and International Farmall tractors. He enjoyed photography, raising cattle, hay farming, watching wrestling, and cowboy shows, and model railroading. He was a graduate of Malone High School, Chipola Junior College, and the University of West Florida. He was a long-time supporter of the Jaycee’s and the American Cancer Society.

The family offers special thanks to Dr. Jeffrey Holley and his office, Donalsonville Hospital, Seminole Manor Nursing Home and Georgia Hospice Care.