Alvin Thomas Clavon

Celebrating the Life of Alvin Thomas Clavon

Alvin Thomas Clavon, known as “Alvin Thomas” graced the world with his presence on May 3rd, 1940 to the union of LeRoy S. Clavon and Mary Connelly Love-Clavon in the city of Detroit, Michigan at Henry Ford Hospital. The family home was located in the town of Inkster, Michigan where Alvin attended Carver Elementary, Ford Middle School, and graduated from Inkster High School in 1958. As we all know,

Alvin loved to talk, so being on the debate team in high school was his Joy. He also loved playing baseball and pitching was his favorite position.

After the birth of his first child, Darlene Michelle, he left home for Huntsville, Alabama to attend Oakwood College. At the end of that year, he moved to Los Angeles, California to work with his father and uncles in the construction business. While attending Los Angeles Community College, he earned an Associate Degree in Psychology. It was during this period of time, he married and to that union three children were produced; Kaaren Roberta, Beverly Renee, and Alvin Thomas II.

In 1973, Alvin enrolled in Loyola Marymount University of Los Angeles and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Alvin’s love for the Lord was the key for his love of mankind. He wanted to share God’s love with everyone. He had been baptized at the age of seventeen at the Sharon Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Inkster, Michigan as well as adopting a vegetarian lifestyle. His joy as a child was to go to church with his Grandmother and watch the Holy Spirit use her in serving others as well as his own family.  As a freshman at Oakwood College he met Richard Penniman, “the Architect of Rock and Roll” also known as “Little Richard”, and they became the best of friends. Their desire for evangelism took them on the road to tell the world about Jesus Christ. At Little Richard’s Rock and Roll concerts, thousands of books, “Steps to Christ” authored by Ellen G. White, were passed out to the audience at the expense of Little Richard. Whatever country they went to, the book was translated into that language and given to the audience. Their friendship was a life-long friendship and each one evangelized his whole life.

1978 life changes caused Alvin to move back to Detroit to spend time with his mother and family. Being the athlete that he was, his time was spent jogging and riding his bike around Palmer Park where he rode up and met Joyce in 1980. This was after spending the previous week at Lake Region Camp Meeting in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Their courtship lasted for four years, ultimately leading to marriage on March 17th, 1984. Their union formed a hospitality ministry that continued throughout the years at the City Temple SDA Church in Detroit where they invited visiting students from Andrews University and other visitors from around the country to share Sabbath dinner.  This ministry continued when they moved to California at the Mt. Rubidoux SDA Church until Alvin was diagnosed with the Blood/Bone cancer, Multiple Myeloma in 2016.

Alvin worked as a school bus driver for mentally and physically challenged children for the Detroit Public School system for over 15 years and another 15 years for the Riverside School District in California. The parents of these children loved him and the care he shared with their children truly lifted their demeanor and brought much happiness to them. He would play music and they would sing as they traveled to school and back home after school. So, parents would receive children home with smiles on their faces which made them happy. 

Alvin worked in the women’s prison ministry with Pastor Michael Ashley for several years. He also worked as a Sabbath school teacher for most of his life. At the old Mt. Rubidoux, people would come to Sabbath school just to hear him share the word of God in a way that they could understand and accept. Teaching the word of God to others was what he felt he was created to do. What a wonderful job to have your whole life! I can hear the Lord say “Well Done” my good and faithful servant. The joy that Alvin shared when he talked about Jesus could be felt as soon as you met him. Many souls accepted Christ from an initial handshake and Alvin’s vibrant and catchy greeting, “I’m Living in the Blessings”, which was a catalyst to conversations that led to Bible Studies in his home.   

While his writing career continued to flourish, he would give motivational speeches at the different schools around the city.

He published a total of four books, his last book being “Message from the Hood Fatherhood of God –Brotherhood of Man”.

If you would like to support his legacy of poetry and ministry, “Message from the Hood” can be purchased by sending an email to monarchtrailspub@gmail.com or by P.O. Box request.

Monarch Trails Publications

P.O. Box 094

26822 Cherry Hills Blvd

Menifee, Ca 92586

Psalm 100:1-5

1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.  

3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the  sheep of his pasture.  

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  

5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.  

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