Depew, New York (June 27, 1936 – February 13, 2010) 73 yrs

Lucille Clifton, born Thelma Lucille Sayles was an American poet, writer, and educator from Buffalo, New York. From 1979 to 1985 she was Poet Laureate of Maryland. Clifton was a finalist twice for the Pulitzer Prize for poetry. From 1985 to 1989, Clifton was a professor of literature and creative writing at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She was Distinguished Professor of Humanities at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. From 1995 to 1999, she was a visiting professor at Columbia University.  Clifton traced her family’s roots to the West African kingdom of Dahomey. She cites as one of her ancestors the first black woman to be “legally hanged” for manslaughter in the state of Kentucky during the time of Slavery in the United States.  Clifton’s words continue to inspire and resonate, offering wisdom and encouragement to those who encounter her work. Her legacy as a poet and thinker remains impactful in contemporary discussions about art, identity, and resilience.