Bishop Clifford Warren was born February 11, 1935 in Widner, Arkansas to the late Deacon Clifford Sr. and Pastor Doretha Corbitt Warren. He was the second born of eight children. His family moved to Toledo, Ohio when he was three years old. Bishop Warren graduated from Libbey High School and the Great Lakes College, in Cleveland, Ohio. He was a practicing clinician in Physical Therapy for over 30 years at St. Vincent Medical Center. He enjoyed being a clinical instructor for Physical Therapy interns until he retired in 1991.

He was an avid music lover and considered music to be an important part of ministry. A self-taught musician, Bishop Warren started playing the steel guitar at age 11 and later switched to the lead guitar. In his early teens he enjoyed the honorable distinction of being an assembly musician playing the guitar with the late great Bishop L.L. Harrison. He received awards from the Sacred Steel Hall of Fame and recently in 2018, he was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Bishop Warren grew up in the Church of the Living God. He answered his call to the ministry in 1984 and was ordained a Bishop in 2003. He served the church in many capacities, including, Presiding Elder, State Bishop, Area Bishop, Associate Senior Pastor and most recently, Senior Pastor of the Toledo Band with the Church of the Living God. For over twenty years he also served on the National Board of Directors for the Church of the Living God.

He leaves to cherish his memory: his devoted wife, Jessie A. Warren; seven children, Terrence Warren, Rita Myers, Talven (Linda) Warren, Janine (Lemuel) King, Mary Warren, Martha Warren and Melanie Gross; sisters, Drucilla White and Betty Carter; brother, Pastor D. Tracy Warren; 25 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.