Major Clifton R. Dabbs

MAJOR CLIFTON R. DABBS Pontotoc - Major Clifton R. Dabbs, age 41, passed away December 14, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland. Major Dabbs, a physician and epidemiologist at the U.S. Army Public Health Command served in the United States Army from August 2003 until his death and was a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He received many awards including the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Superior Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Combat Medical Badge. Major Dabbs was called to the White House and was decorated by President George W. Bush for his research and implementation with a program to assist Wounded Warriors. This program was adopted by all branches of the military services He was born to Robert and Delores Pennington Dabbs in Tupelo on March 25, 1974. He graduated from Tupelo High School in 1992 and went on to the University of Mississippi, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science. He also received a Master of Public Health at Uniformed Services University of the Health Services. He went on to the University of Health Sciences, Kansas City, Missouri where he earned his Doctrine of Medicine. He worked as a physician for the United States Army for the past 11 years. A celebration of his life with military honors will be 1:30 p.m. Sunday, December 21, 2014, at The Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues Funeral Home with Pastor Billy Ferguson of Columbus church of Christ officiating. A graveside with full military honors will follow at Boggan Cemetery, 60128 Hatley Cemetery Cr., Amory, MS, 38821. Arrangements are by W.E. Pegues Funeral Directors. Major Dabbs is survived by his wife, Tonya Bazzell Dabbs, and three children; Chance Riley, Faith Elizabeth, and Whitley Huffman Dabbs. He is further survived by three brothers, Robert L. Dabbs, Jr. (Leslie) of Fallbrook, CA., Steve Dabbs (Terese) of La Grange, KY and Danny Dabbs (Cindy) of Amory; and a host of nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Delores Dabbs, of Tupelo; grandparents, Clifton and Ailene Pennington of Amory, and Riley and Lillian Dabbs of Quincy. Pallbearers will be Jon. D. Shelton, ESQ, Mayor Jason Shelton, Jeremy Scruggs, Carl Vail, Dr. Dax Eckard and Chuck Huffstatler. Visitation will be 4 - 8 p.m., Saturday, December 21, 2014 at W. E. Pegues Funeral Home in Tupelo. Memorials may be given to the Wounded Warrior Project. The family of Clifton wishes to extend sincere thanks to the families of The United States Army.