Cleve Walker Campbell

Mr. Cleve Walker Campbell, age 78 of Alto passed away peacefully at his home on October 24, 2021.

He was one of ten children, born on January 8, 1943 to Hubert and Mary Fowler Campbell of Toccoa.  He met his future wife Rayleen, a Toccoa Falls College Student on a blind double date in 1963.  They were married the same year. 

He and his wife moved to Boston, Massachusetts.  Their first daughter, Tina was born in 1964. After learning much about the restaurant business, they decided to return to Georgia, settling in Chamblee.  There they opened a successful restaurant, The Dinner Box.  Their daughter, Beth Nicole arrived in 1971.

Cleve and Rayleen went on to create other restaurants in their 30 year career including Cleve’s Country Style Meals and Cleve’s to Go.  He never turned away anyone hungry.  He paid attention to those in need by hiring the unexpected, the broken and the good hearted.  His customers loved his restaurant not only for his food but for his innate goodness.  Generations grew up on his recipes. Former employees would say, “He is the best boss we ever had.”

When Cleve and Rayleen retired, they moved permanently to their North Georgia property, fondly known as “The Farm”.  There they enjoyed time with family, creating beautiful landscapes and enjoying the peace.  Rayleen passed away in 2009.  They were married 46 years. 

Cleve was an honest, kind, humble, pragmatic man of integrity.  He had a deep fondness for hummingbirds, bluebirds, sharing stories of his childhood and kittens at dusk.  He was a lifelong fan of Elvis, the Boston Red Sox and the Georgia Bulldogs.  He was immensely proud of his family and encouraged them to seek their own path.

Survivors include his daughters and son-in-law, Christina “Tina” Campbell Schmid and Beth Nicole l Bishop and her husband Patrick Augustus “ Gus” Bishop; grandchildren, Casey, Calvin and Cory Schmid and Bailey Augustus Bishop and Briana Nicole Bishop; great-grandchildren, Cambree, Hunter, Roland, Landon, Sophia and Liam and Baby Bishop is due to join the family at Christmas time; sisters, Betty Brady of Toccoa and Faye Hill of Homer. 

Memorial services will be Saturday, November 20, 2021, 3 O’clock p.m. in the Hillcrest Chapel of the Acree-Davis Funeral Home with his son-in-law, The Reverend Patrick Augustus “Gus” Bishop officiating. 

The family will receive friends at the Acree-Davis Funeral Home on Saturday from 2 p.m. until the service time.  Acree-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. Cleve Walker Campbell.