Ronald Clifford Hinton

Ronald Clifford Hinton Sr. of Washington D.C. Born January 6th, 1957 departed his earthly life on Wednesday, January 19th 2011 at the age of fifty-three at Howard University hospital. Born in Freedman’s Hospital to Dempsey C. Hinton and the late Pearl Hinton; Ronald was also raised by his loving grandmother the late Marian Rutherford. He was a man of character and many nick names. He was known by his names Ronald and Ron but to his coworkers he was known as “Big Serge”, to some of his closest family and friends he was known as “Ronnie”, to his church family he was known as “Big John”, to his Free Form Experience band mates he was known as “Dino”, to his children he was known as “Dad” but his son held another special name he called his father “Big man.” The commonality of most of these names is apparent in the fact that he was a big man. Not only was he big in stature, he was a big part of most of the people’s lives he came in contact with and the biggest thing about him was his heart. He spent most of his life in the city he held most dearly to his heart, Washington D.C. where he was a lifetime resident and loved everything about the city from its people and places to its football team, the Washington Redskins. He was graduated from Theodore Roosevelt Senior High School in 1975. He, alongside other senior musicians, petitioned and founded the marching Rough Rider band his senior year. This founding marching band included 40 plus members with Ronald playing the Alto Saxophone. Music was a very large part of his life; he enjoyed singing, dancing, playing music and listening to music. He was a member of multiple church and gospel choirs and ensembles including The Ministers of Music under the direction of Patrick Lundy. Two weeks after graduating from high school, he and his other Free Form Experience brothers took their very popular band to California. He played alto saxophone, sang and played tambourine for the group. Two of their most popular songs included Reach Higher and Blowin my Mind. Ronald’s hobbies not only included music but also watching Redskin’s football, cheering for Georgetown University, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and East Carolina University athletics, and fishing. On May 21st, 1987 he was united in marriage to Michelle, and from this union three children were born. Ronald worked as a security enforcement officer for over 20 years with his latest employer being the World Bank via Allied Barton Security Services. He was also very active in disaster relief. He was a volunteer for the Red Cross organization and aided in National Mall safety during the fourth of July national celebrations with the biggest accomplishment of being selected in aiding the relief effort in Kansas after floods swept the nation’s heartlands. He was also employed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the relief efforts in Florida post hurricane Katrina in 2005. He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 23 years, Michelle; two children, Christina Cierra Hinton of Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Ronald Clifford Hinton III of Greenville, North Carolina; Loving father, Dempsey C. Hinton; Sisters, Alfreda Hinton; Sister-in-laws, Betty Richardson and Vanessa Brown; four special aunts, Thelma Cherry and Ruth Hinton, both of Washington, DC, Ernestine Clark, Glendale, MD and Lillian Shaw of Tarboro, North Carolina; loving companion, Hope Jefferson of Waldorf, Maryland, and a host of other loving nephews, relatives and friends. Ronald was preceded in death by his son, Ronald Clifford Hinton Jr.; Mother, Pearl Hinton; Brother, Dempsey C. Hinton Jr.; and loving grandmother, Marian Rutherford.

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Ronald Clifford Hinton

January 6, 1957 - January 19, 2011