Clifford Earl Bullard Jr.

Clifford "Clif" E. Bullard, Jr. passed away peacefully with family by his side on Thursday, May 18, 2023, in Wilmington, North Carolina. Clif was born to Clifford E. Bullard, Sr. and Martha Pitman Bullard on May 9, 1954, in Columbia, South Carolina.

Clif was a 1972 graduate of Lumberton Senior High School. He attended The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill receiving his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1976. He was an active member of Pi Kappa Alpha, where he developed a lifelong brotherhood that was collectively nurtured throughout his life.

After college, Clif and his father opened their first Burger King franchise on May 19, 1980. With dedication, Clif, his father and brother built Bullard Restaurants, Inc. from the ground up focusing on family and southern hospitality. Together, they grew their franchise group to one of the top 200 franchises in the country. He valued the many team members, some of whom have been with him for over 40 years, for this accomplishment. Cif was very proud to be a member of the Smithfield's Chicken 'N Bar-B-Q family. He had a unique ability to mentor those around him to achieve their fullest potential. Clif credits UNC-Chapel Hill with helping him establish strong relationships, “because in the restaurant business, it’s all about people, all the time.”

Clif had an unquenchable passion for life, learning, and people. His guiding principle was faith. He always believed he was blessed and knew his blessings came from his Lord, Jesus. He was generous with all he had. Clif’s donations to Uttermost Ministries built nearly 100 churches in Africa. He was an avid supporter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and attended Providence (Triangle) Bible Study for over 20 years.

Second only to his faith and family was Clif’s love of sports. You could find him at most UNC football and basketball games passionately cheering on the Tar Heels. Clif’s love of UNC extended to the Kenan-Flagler School of Business, where he and his family funded the Bullard Faculty Research Impact Award.

Clif maintained a loyalty to his Lumberton roots and was a generous supporter of Robeson Community College. He continued his father’s legacy by organizing the College’s annual golf fundraiser, the Clifford Earl Bullard, Sr. Golf Tournament.

Clif never met a stranger. No matter where he went, from the boardroom to the driving range, he was fostering new relationships with genuine curiosity and compassion.

Clif lived life to the fullest. He loved to spend his time on the water and boating with his family. He also enjoyed taking his family on adventures and exploring new places. Clif found joy in piloting the skies and perfecting his swing on the golf course. From the moment he woke up until he went to bed, there was rarely a dull moment, with every detail attended.

Clif was a loving husband to his wife, Rachelle, a dedicated father to his children Jessica, Kyle, Kevin, Trevor, Wells and Lucia, and a proud grandfather to McKenzie and Violet.

He was preceded in death by his parents Clifford Earl Bullard, Sr. and Martha Pitman Bullard.

He is survived by his wife, Rachelle Boudreau Bullard; his six children, Jessica Leigh Bullard, Kyle McKenzie Bullard (Courtney), Kevin Harris Bullard (Ann Howell), Matthew Trevor Bullard, Wells Leggett Boudreau, and Lucia Zette Boudreau; two grandchildren, Kyle McKenzie Bullard, Jr., and Violet Isabel Bullard; brother, Andrew Pitman Bullard (Tina); niece, Lindsey Bullard Nelson (Andrew) and nephew, Andrew Pitman Bullard II.

Funeral Services for Clifford E. Bullard, Jr. were held at Bay Leaf Baptist Church, 12200 Bayleaf Church Road in Raleigh, North Carolina on Wednesday, May 24, 2023.

Memorial donations can be made to Uttermost Ministries by using the link below, under 'Donations', or another charitable organization of your choice in Clif’s honor.

If you would like to leave a favorite memory / story of Clif, or a message of condolence for his family, you may do so below, within ‘Add a Memory’.