Brotherhood: Honoring Fair Haven-Raised RFH Grad Clinton Miller with a Memorial & Fundraiser

“Man is not man until he has learned to
live with his brothers.”
Clinton Miller, RFH Yearbook quote

The news of the sudden death of former Fair Havenite and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) graduate, Clinton Miller, on March 11, was met with a tsunami of shock and sadness coupled with gratitude from countless people for having known a man many called their brother, blood or not.

“My brother, my friend, has left us with a very large hole in our lives,” said Fair Haven friend Judy Russell Goddard. “He was one of the kindest most generous people I have ever known.”

Sister of the Fair Haven-raised, Phrita Black Norris, said she felt as if she had lost yet another brother. Family. Neighborhood ties were so strong that the severance broke her heart, too. Her sentiments were echoed by countless neighbors and friends.

“Growing up I had 1 blood brother (Morris Black, who died last year),” However, he had two friends that became his brothers and so mine as well: Russell Brown and Clinton Miller,” she said. “Back in the day when you saw 1 you saw the other 2. The three amigos. Life, years and distance never broke their bond. My heart is aching. All I can say is “Rest well, my brothers. Rest well.”

The brother, gentleman and friend to so many is being remembered in services from 2 to 4 this afternoon and 7 to 9 this evening, with a special memorial at 8 p.m. at DeGraff Lakehurst Funeral Home, 119 Union Ave, Lakehurst.

A fundraiser to aid in covering Clinton’s funeral costs has also been set up.

“Our beloved brother, Clinton Miller, was taken from us suddenly on March 11, 2021,” said coordinator Loretta Dehaan. “Please help us honor him by helping with his funeral expenses. His pure heart and voice praised the Lord and showed him to be good and faithful servant to the end.”

As of 2 p.m. on Thursday, the GoFundMe page has raised $3,785 of a $7,500 goal. Click here to donate.

RIP, Clinton. You are remembered.

More about Clinton in his obituary …

Clinton, 62, was living in Whiting at the time of his death. He passed away suddenly on Thursday, March 11 at Community Medical Center, Toms River.

Born in Newark, Clinton was raised in Fair Haven and graduated from RFH in the Class of 1976. Clint and his brother Brett were star football players on the football team. Go Bulldogs!

He also lived in La Marque, TX, and Whiting.

Clinton was employed by the Marion Security Agency as captain of Security for the Shadow Lake Village Retirement Community in Middletown.

He was also an ordained minister and was head of security at Word Up Ministries in Old Bridge.

In addition, Clinton was a professional singer with the southern gospel group Three as One. His forever friends Geri and Willie James and Frank Allen will miss his friendship and unique contribution to the group.

He loved camping, fishing and achieved the level of black belt in Martial Arts.

Clinton was predeceased by: his father, Robert Miller (1977); his mother, Malvina Miller (2020); brother, Keith Miller (2019); and niece, Rachel Robinson (2020).

Clinton is survived by: two brothers, Mark, of Whiting, and Brett, of Atlanta, GA; and a chosen sister, Suzanne (Missy Patrick) Bolen; his children, Rhonda Ivory, Andre Howard, Yolanda English and Dwayne Haskins; and his nephew, Priest Amour.

— Slideshow photos/Clinton Miller’s Facebook page and RFH Yearbook