Charles Clifford "Cliff" Cameron

1920 - 2016

Charles Clifford ("Cliff") Cameron, 96, beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend to many, died peacefully at his home at Southminster Retirement Community in Charlotte, North Carolina on May 28, 2016.

Cliff, the epitome of a Southern Gentleman, was born and raised in Mississippi, but made North Carolina his adopted home for 67 years. He exhibited the traits so often associated with other truly outstanding men and women of his generation: humility, a tireless work ethic, and fierce loyalty to his family, his community and his country. Cliff, revered as a gentle giant as much for his ability to get difficult projects completed as for his 6'3" stature, made multiple contributions to various business, community and educational enterprises over his lifetime, not the least of which included leading two institutions which significantly contributed to North Carolina, and Charlotte in particular, becoming the banking and finance center it is today.

Cliff was born in Meridian, Mississippi on January 4, 1920 to the late Daniel Baker Cameron and Bertha Morris Cameron. Upon graduating from Meridian High School in 1937, Cliff and his father traveled by train to look at colleges. Their first stop was Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. As Cliff had played the trumpet in high school, his father suggested they meet with the director of the renowned LSU Marching Band. Cliff auditioned and was immediately awarded a full scholarship. Cliff was the first in his family to attend college and he graduated from LSU in 1941 with honors in Chemical Engineering and as an Army R.O.T.C. Officer.

Cliff's notable achievements included: Earning his Eagle Scout; serving in the European Theater as an artillery officer in World War II, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and earning a Bronze Star; joining Standard Oil (Exxon) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana as a Chemical Engineer; co-founding Cameron-Brown Mortgage Company in Raleigh, North Carolina; serving as President and Chairman of First Union National Bank in Charlotte; serving as Budget Director for the State of North Carolina under Governor Jim Martin; serving as a distinguished board member for multiple academic institutions including Chairman of the UNC Board of Governors and member of the Board of Trustees at both Wake Forest University and Meredith College and serving as the Chairman of the University Research Park in Charlotte. Cliff also served as a Deacon and Elder for Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte and First Baptist Church in Raleigh. Nationally, Cliff served on the Federal Reserve Board in Richmond, Va. and was President of the Mortgage Bankers Association of America. He also received innumerable awards for distinguished service including twice being awarded The Order of the Long Leaf Pine.

Cliff was predeceased by his parents, his brother, Daniel B. Cameron, Jr., his first wife and mother of his four children, Yvonne Smith Cameron, and his beloved second wife of 34 years, Sara Anderson Cameron. He is survived by his four children: daughter Sheryl Cameron Worth (Tom) of Raleigh and son Randolph M. Cameron (Nancy), twin daughters Cynthia Cameron and Cathy Cameron Sigmon, all of Cornelius, N.C. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren: Cameron W. Davis (Holmes) of Dallas, Texas, their children, Holmes V, Eliza and Marguerite; Thomas C. Worth III (Lawson) of Charlotte, their children, Thomas IV and Finley; W. Andrew Worth (Michelle) of Winnetka, Illinois, their children, Jack, Lila and Bo; C. Clifford Cameron II (Stewart) of Tryon, N.C., their children, Coble and Callaway; Courtney W. Cameron of Rutherfordton, N.C., her children, Madison and Jack Smith and Hadley Newlin; Elizabeth Randolph Cameron of Houston, Texas; Sean M. Morris (Crystal) of Harrisburg, N.C.; Christopher C. Morris and Logan M. Sigmon of Charlotte, N.C.; and Daniel W. Sigmon of Winston-Salem, N.C.

A memorial service will be held at the Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte on June 1, 2016 at 11:00am. A private family service will be held at the church Columbarium prior to the service at 10:15am. The family would like to give special thanks to Mr. Cameron's caregivers over the last two and a half years, in particular, Ms. Aisha Bah who has contributed immeasurably to the length and quality of his life. We would also like to thank the staff at Southminster, the wonderful nurses at Hospice, Dr. Robert Heyer and Dr. John Doty. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region, 1420 East Seventh Street, Charlotte, NC 28204, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Cameron Scholars Endowment, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28220 or to the charity of your choice. Robertson Funeral & Cremation Service is serving the family. www.throbertson.com