Alert Top Story Spotlight THE BRIGHT SIDE From Southside tobacco fields to the White House: Clarence Lipford’s ‘remarkable’ journey Charles Wilborn Nov 10, 2026 Nov 10, 2026 0 × Charles Wilborn Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save As a teen, Clarence Lipford grew up working in the tobacco fields of Southside Virginia.kAmw6 62C?65 >@?6J E@ 3FJ 4=@E96D 2?5 D9@6D 7@C D49@@= 2?5 96=A 9:D 72>:=J]k^AmkAm{2DE >@?E9[ 96 C6E:C65 27E6C ba J62CD @7 2 ;@3 E92E AFE 9:> 7246\E@\7246 H:E9 E96 >@DE A@H6C7F= A6@A=6 :? E96 H@C=5]k^Am Clarence Lipford points out his Navy commendations at his home on Friday. Charles Wilborn, Register & Bee kAmu:CDE 2D 2 4967 7@C E96 (9:E6 w@FD6’D (6DE (:?8 2?5 =2E6C 2D 2 3FE=6C 2E E96 C6D:56?46[ {:A7@C5 H@C<65 F?56C !C6D:56?ED q:== r=:?E@?[ v6@C86 (] qFD9[ q2C24< ~32>2[ s@?2=5 %CF>A 2?5 y@6 q:56?]k^Am kAm%96 :?E6C24E:@?D H6C6 72C >@C6 A6CD@?2= E92? ;FDE 2 AC@76DD:@? 7@C E96 }2GJ G6E6C2?]k^Am People are also reading… Authorities: 3 shot at NorthPointe Apartments in Pittsylvania County Suspect arrested in shooting that injured 3 at NorthPointe Apartments 19-year-old Pittsylvania County woman charged in N.C. death Juvenile seriously hurt in crash involving Pittsylvania County deputy From Southside tobacco fields to the White House: Clarence Lipford’s ‘remarkable’ journey God's Storehouse picks a new executive director Shakeva Frazier, Danville’s newest council member, pushes for ‘shared prosperity’ Tradition continues: Danville goes blue, Pittsylvania red 23-year-old Dry Fork woman dies in crash Monument to honor Pittsylvania County’s most highly decorated veteran CEO cites consolidation as reason for Danville Buitoni plant closure Shakeva Frazier elected to Danville City Council as first woman since 2010 ‘Super excited and relieved.’ Mellow Mushroom opens Monday in Danville Danville company settles claim of improper Medicaid billing for $1.81M Walk down memory lane in Danville with the R&B's Flashback Friday feature (copy) kAm(92E’D :E =:<6 E@ E2=< E@ E96 AC6D:56?E @7 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6Dnk^AmkAm“xE’D =:<6 x’> E2=<:?8 E@ J@F C:89E ?@H[” {:A7@C5 E@=5 E96 #68:DE6C U2>Aj q66 2E 2 uC:52J >@C?:?8 :?E6CG:6H 2E 9:D s2?G:==6 9@>6[ A24<65 E@ E96 3C:> H:E9 (9:E6 w@FD6 >6>@C23:=:2]k^AmkAm“%9:D 86?E=6>2?VD ;@FC?6J :D 2 C6>2C<23=6 DE@CJ @7 56E6C>:?2E:@?[ D24C:7:46 2?5 249:6G6>6?E[” s2?G:==6 4@F?4:= >6>36C qCJ2?E w@@5 D2:5 2E %9FCD52J ?:89E’D >66E:?8[ FD:?8 9:D 6?5\@7\D6DD:@? 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E96 &$$ }6HA@CE }6HD DF3>2C:?6 5FC:?8 E96 vF=7 (2C]k^Am kAm%9C@F89@FE 9:D }2GJ 42C66C[ 96 62C?65 ?@E @?=J >652=D 3FE E96 C6DA64E @7 9:D DFA6C:@CD[ D@>6E9:?8 E92E 96=A65 9:> =2?5 2 4@G6E65 ;@3 2E E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 :? `hhc F?56C E96 r=:?E@? 25>:?:DEC2E:@?]k^Am Clarence Lipford's living room is full of memorabilia from his time in the Navy. Charles Wilborn, Register & Bee kAmw:D :?E6C6DE DE2CE65 27E6C 2 3F55J @7 9:D H6?E]k^AmkAm“xE’D E96 A:??24=6 @7 2?J3@5JVD 42C66C :? E96 7@@5 D6CG:46 :?5FDECJ[” 96 D2:5 @7 E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 4967 A@D:E:@?]k^Am kAm(96? 96 7:CDE DE2CE65 4@@<:?8 @?3@2C5 E96 DF3>2C:?6D[ 96 92E65 :E]k^AmkAmqFE :E 8C6H @? 9:>]k^AmkAmp=E9@F89 96’D BF:6E 23@FE 9:D 249:6G6>6?ED[ w@@5 D92C65 E92E {:A7@C5 62C?65 E96 C2?< @7 >2DE6C 49:67 A6EEJ @77:46C t\h[ E96 9:896DE 6?=:DE65 A2J 8C256 :? 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E9:?< @7[” 96 D2:5]k^Am kAm!9@E@D 42AEFC65 E9@D6 >@>6?ED 2?5 @C5:?2CJ 52JD H:E9 E96 AC6D:56?E 2?5 72>:=J]k^AmkAm%96C6’D @?6 A9@E@ @7 {:A7@C5 =62?:?8 @G6C E@ E2=< E@ %CF>A[ H9@ H2D “AC@323=J” 2D<:?8 9:> E@ 3C:?8 E96 AC6D:56?E 9:D A9@?6]k^Am Clarence Lipford shows a framed photograph of himself and President Donald Trump. Charles Wilborn, Register & Bee kAm%9C@F89 52:=J :?E6C24E:@?D[ {:A7@C5 3642>6 8@@5 7C:6?5D H:E9 6G6CJ@?6 :? E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@?]k^AmkAm~?6 @7 9:D C@@>D 92D >6>@C23:=:2 E92E’D J6E E@ 36 D@CE65[ :?4=F5:?8 2 92?5328 36=@?8:?8 E@ y:== q:56?]k^Am kAm$96 H2D 8@:?8 E@ 86E C:5 @7 :E @?6 52J[ 2?5 {:A7@C5 2D<65 :7 96 4@F=5 92G6 :E] %92E’D :? 2 8=2DD 42D6 ?@H]k^AmkAm(96? E96C6 H2D 2 DA64:2= 5:??6C[ {:A7@C5 D2G65 E96 >6?F 2?5 @7E6? 925 E96 8F6DE @7 9@?@C D:8? :E]k^AmkAm(2J?6 vC6EK<J[ 2 %CF>A DFAA@CE6C[ H2D 6?E6CE2:?65 2E E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 D6G6C2= E:>6D[ 2?5 {:A7@C5 42AEFC65 E9@D6 >@>6?ED H:E9 A9@E@D @7 E96 :46 9@4<6J DE2C]k^Am kAm~7 2== E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@?D[ E96 q:56?D H6C6 E96 “>@DE 5@H? E@ 62CE9[” {:A7@C5 D2:5[ 8C@H:?8 4=@D6 E@ E96>]k^Am kAm“%96J 925 2 5@8[ E96J 925 E96 8C2?5<:5D 2=H2JD 4@>:?8 @G6C[” 96 D2:5]k^AmkAmqFE 2== @7 E96 AC6D:56?ED 92G6 EC62E65 {:A7@C5 =:<6 72>:=J]k^Am Clarence Lipford talks about Jill Biden leaving the White House and shows a framed photo of the former first lady kissing him. Charles Wilborn, Register & Bee kAm“(6 2== 9F>2?[ D@ E96J 2== 8@E AC@3=6>D[ 2?5 E96J 92G6 E9:?8D 8@:?8 @? :? =:76[ 2?5 E96J E6== J@F 23@FE :E[” {:A7@C5 D2:5 @7 :?E:>2E6 E2=<D]k^AmkAmx? E96 :??6C 4:C4=6[ 96 86ED 563C:6765 H96? E96C6 2C6 4=2DD:7:65 E9:?8D E92E 96 42?’E 5:D4FDD H:E9 @E96CD]k^Am kAm“qFE D@>6 E9:?8D x H@?’E E2=< 23@FE 2?JH2J[Q 96 D2:5] “*@F 8@E E@ E2=< A6CD@?2= E9:?8D[ D@ x H@F=5?VE H2?E E@ 6IA@D6 E92E A6CD@?2= DEF77]”k^Amk9amq24< :? s2?G:==6k^9amkAm{:A7@C5 H2?E65 E@ C6E:C6 23@FE D:I J62CD 28@ H96? 96 D@=5 9:D 9@>6 :? s]r] 2?5 3@F89E @?6 :? s2?G:==6[ 3FE E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 <6AE ?F58:?8 9:> E@ DE2J @?]k^AmkAm$@[ 96 >@G65 :?E@ 2? 2A2CE>6?E :? 2 E6>A@C2CJ 2CC2?86>6?E E92E =2DE65 D:I J62CD]k^Am kAm(96? 2D<65 H9J 96 >@G65 324< E@ s2?G:==6[ 9:D 2?DH6C H2D D:>A=6]k^Am kAm“%9:D H2D 9@>6[” 96 E@=5 E96 ?6HDA2A6C]k^Am kAmw:D D:DE6CD[ 4@FD:?D 2?5 @E96C 72>:=J 2C6 DE:== 96C6]k^AmkAmyFDE 2D G:G:5=J 2D 96 C6>6>36CD 9:D FA3C:?8:?8[ 9:D =:G:?8 C@@> D6CG6D 2D 2 >@?F>6?E E@ E96 62C=J 52JD]k^AmkAm$FCC@F?5:?8 2 =2C86 %' 2C6 8@=56? E@3244@ =62G6D H:E9 A9@E@D @7 9:D A2C6?ED]k^Am kAmu@C 2 H9:=6[ 96 D@=5 9:D @H? D62D@?:?8D H96? 96 42>6 9@>6 E@ s2?G:==6 @? H66<6?5D 27E6C 96 3@F89E 9:D 9@>6[ 3FE E92E 3642>6 E@@ E:>6\4@?DF>:?8]k^Am kAmq67@C6 E96?[ 96 2=D@ >256 9:D @H? 3@EE=65 D2F46D]k^AmkAmu@C ?@H[ 96’D 8@:?8 E@ E2<6 2 3C62< 2?5 C6=2I 2 =:EE=6 27E6C 9:D D@\42==65 D64@?5 C6E:C6>6?E]k^AmkAmqFE 96 <?@HD :E H@?’E =2DE]k^Am kAm“x’> 8@:?8 E@ 8@ 324< E@ H@C<[” 96 D2:5[ A6C92AD E6249:?8] “x 8@E E@ 7:?5 D@>6E9:?8]”k^Am Clarence Lipford shows letters from presidents congratulating him on his recent retirement from the White House. Charles Wilborn, Register & Bee kAmtG6? E9@F89 96’D ?@ =@?86C :? E96 ?2E:@?’D 42A:E2=[ 96 DE:== <66AD :? E@F49 H:E9 72>:=J 7C@> E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@?]k^AmkAm#6>@G:?8 9:D :!9@?6 7C@> 2 492C86C[ 96 AF==65 FA 2 >6DD286 E@ D9@H E96 #68:DE6C U2>Aj q66]k^Am kAm~?6 H2D 7C@> wF?E6C q:56?] p?@E96C H2D 7C@> q2CC@? %CF>A]k^Am kAm%92E’D H92E 96 >:DD6D >@DE 23@FE C6E:C6>6?E]k^AmkAm“xV> 8@??2 >:DD A6@A=6[” 96 D2:5[ @7 4@H@C<6CD 2?5 AC6D:56?E:2= 72>:=:6D]k^Am Charles Wilborn | 434-791-7976cwilborn@registerbee.com@CWilbornGDR on X 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Charles Wilborn Reporter Author email Follow Charles Wilborn Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Clarence Lipford Clarence Lipford’s home full of White House, Navy memorabilia As a chef and butler, Danville native and Navy veteran Clarence Lipford worked under five presidential administrations, getting to know all pe… Watch Now: Related Video Stephen Miller’s promotion ignites GOP battle over immigration House Republicans quash effort to impeach Defense Secretary Hegseth House Republicans quash effort to impeach Defense Secretary Hegseth US midterms 2026 latest: Can Pete Hegseth survive impeachment? US midterms 2026 latest: Can Pete Hegseth survive impeachment? Dana White Rejects Trump's Offer to Become White House Press Secretary Dana White Rejects Trump's Offer to Become White House Press Secretary
Charles Wilborn Reporter Author email Follow Charles Wilborn Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Clarence Lipford’s home full of White House, Navy memorabilia As a chef and butler, Danville native and Navy veteran Clarence Lipford worked under five presidential administrations, getting to know all pe…
