It is with a heavy heart that I write and send my condolences to Channing and the family. Clarence,  my childhood friend was always known to me and others as "That Guy". The guy who once he befriended you , you had a friend for life.  Clarence, introduced me to Oliver Behagen, one of his close friends and basketball buddy over 40 years ago. Because of this introduction I now have two beautiful daughters Allayah 38 and Ivy 33.  I always loved him for that. My girls were over joyed when they spoke to Clarence over the phone an̈d always thanked him for introducing Oliver and I. Unfortunatly they never met him . It goes without saying how much of a kind and caring person Clarence was. He was loved by many in Lindsay Park.  Where we grew up.  We always watched him play basketball in the park and play he did. It was like watching a professional game.  BASKETBALL  WAS HIS PASSION part of his DNA The park was always crouded in anticipation of a great game to be played. Especially durning the Lindsay Park tournaments. You had to get there early to get a good seat. Clarence in his younger years reminded me of Walt Fraizer, big afro and long side burns. He was a very handsome guy and the girls always admired him.  I will always remember the BBQs he attended on Old Timers Days  where he provided chicken and the fixings. He even brought T Shirts
for many people without asking for anything in return. Yes Clarence was " That Guy." He moved to Tampa Florida and I had the opportunity to vist him on more than one occasion as I too live in Florida and he was only a 45 minute  plane ride  away to visit him and our friends.  He still is and was "That Guy". The jokester,  he made us all laugh.  He will be missed by all in Lindsay Park.  Clarence I will never forget you my dear friend. Play Ball with the Greats of the past .  You too are are now one of many. Basketball will always be in your DNA. Rest Peacefully my friend.
Vikki and daughters 
LP7 4LIFE

Hey My brother for real...  We've known each other for over 55 years, and I don't have a single Lindsay Park story or memory that doesn't include you.  This is really hard for me, but we'll see each other again. 
 You were my confidante, and we talked often.  I'm gonna miss you so much.  You and I were really and truly family.  Much love bro...

I miss you bro,you and I have been through a lot in 57 years and there's a lot of feelings. You was one of my closest homies.  I'm really going to miss that Jones of doc,doc Jones response when I call. I know in my heart I will see you ( C-moe and D-moe ) again and boy what a reunion it will be.  

Love you bro!!!!!     LP 4 LIFE


Doc Jones out.

My heart is heavy as I write this. It feels like just a few months ago we were all together saying goodbye at my father’s service. All those moments together hanging out are so fresh in my mind. Channing and I were talking just the other day as he arrived in Tokyo and then, the next thing I knew everything changed. My heart felt condolences to our entire family at this moment. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there with you but know I love you all. 

With love,
Matthew

My name is Keith Evans. I met Clarence around 1990 . We met at a job  Christmas grab bag party . He  grabbed my name from the bag , and we became the best of friends until his passing .  Never thought we’d never be together again. RIP

Me and Clarence went to P.S. 250 together and I.S.318 we were good friends grew up by Linsay Projects and played in Linsay Park I lived right across the street from him and my most favorite memory of me and him he always told everybody that I taught him how to play basketball in the monkey bars in the park of his building but I say not he was a natural he had the talent in him since his young days I watched him play he was a natural talent in basketball in he proved it when he played for St. Francis College my condolences to the family from Efrain he use to call me E since public school rip Clarence.

To my good friend that has been called home by God to his final resting place. C-moe, Vernon, Nigel  Lloyd and I having times playing ball while at school. Cl-moe was one of the best ball players in the city. I will  always remember the good times. I haven't seen him since  1978 when I enter the military. I tried to run into him but was never successful. My condolences to his family and friends.  R.I.P C-moe. You will always be in my thoughts.

Clarence Thornton RIP 
from Eric Leonard

I had the pleasure of being the Day Camp Counselor of Clarence when he was a young child and his employer when he coached my girls basketball team at Bedford Academy HS to a championship trophy, along with Derrick Mickels, Steven Babb and Robert Hart.
Everyone who knew Clarence respected his confidence and skills on the Basketball Court, no matter where he played. 
Hard Core players from Williamsburg ,Bushwick, Marcy and other housing projects bordering Lindsay Park, highly respected Clarence as a potential superstar. Anybody who can make Ronnie Cargill take a back seat on the basketball court and shut that mouth,  was considered someone special. To me, Clarence missed out on a real opportunity to be a Pro Player in the NBA, however, the cards that you are dealt in life can sometimes derail these options. Clarence was sometimes his own worse enemy, while at the same time being the best friend a person can cherish and appreciate. I will miss his jokes and the times we spent
together reminiscing about growing up in Lindsay Park and his memories as a child with Ms. Barbara and the counselors at Lindsay Park Day Camp! That was more of a family than most people can imagine, all of those campers and counselors watched each other grow from a young child to an adult. Not all of their outcomes were noteworthy, but the love that we had for each other was real.
The name Clarence Darrow Thornton, will be remembered as a person who lived life as he saw fit and didn't care how anybody felt about his decisions or actions. He never backed down from a fight and sometimes it would have been a good idea. We all feel sad about his passing, but we must gain strength from believing that Clarence lived life on his own terms and will always be remembered as the G.O.A.T. of Lp that will never be forgotten! Rest in strength my brother.

Clarence and I were on the Erasmus Hall basketball team together,  and even though we didn’t speak as much,  when we did converse it was always a nice conversation. I tell a story I had with C,  I used to go uptown in my youth with a friend to watch this amazing player named Artie Green.  When I played with C I told him that Artie Green and I was related.  Years later we always joked about that big lie I told him back then lol. .  My memory of Clarence will always be,  even though I was ineligible for that part of the season,  was watching him put on a show against Boys and Girls in the Kangaroo Classic at Pratt Institute. He was a sight to see that game,  they couldn’t do anything with him. We came away victorious,  it had to be an amazing feeling to beat your old school like that.. I never did get a chance to ask him that. In closing I just want to offer my condolences to the Thorton family.. May Clarence “ C” Rest in eternal peace 🙏🏾

Always being silly. A big kid. Loved that about him. His fun-loving presence will be truly missed by all 🧡💙#photobomb

My Big Brother/Cousin (Darrow) and my son helping me celebrate at my awards ceremony in October 2019.

OBITUARY

Clarence Darrow Thornton

February 22, 1960 – March 31, 2025

Stowers Funeral Home

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