Emma Lee Henry Clayton

Emma Lee Henry Clayton, 103 CAMBRIDGE - Emma Lee Henry Clayton, 103, passed away on Sunday, July 20, 2008 at the Mallard Bay Care Center. She was born in Cambridge on Oct. 28, 1904 and was a daughter of the late Howard and Ada Meredith Wilson. She graduated from Cambridge High School in 1920, and was first married to Edwin M. Henry Sr. in 1926. Mr. Henry passed away on Nov. 5, 1959. She was later married to Ellison R. Clayton in 1970. Mr. Clayton passed away on Jan. 25, 1986. As a young woman she worked at Herbert Hearn Hardware in Cambridge, and later worked as clerk to the Dorchester Co. Commissioners for 25 years until retiring at age 65. Mrs. Clayton was a member of Grace United Methodist Church for many years. She was an avid bridge player and had been a member of the Cambridge Woman's Club, Cambridge Yacht Club and the Dorchester General Hospital Auxiliary. She was very community-oriented and was well known for her elegance and grace. Mrs. Clayton had been a resident at the Mallard Bay Care Center for the past five years where she passed away on Sunday evening. Survivors include two sons, Edwin M. Henry Jr. and his wife, Barbara Henry of Ellicott City and H. Keith Henry of Lewes, Del.; one stepdaughter, Geraldine Clayton Creighton and her husband, Donald Creighton of Salisbury; two granddaughters, Barbara Jo Pion and her husband, Edward Pion of East New Market, Kim Meris Reitz and her husband, Richard Reitz of West Friendship; two stepgrandchildren, Bryan Ellison Mills and Shannon Rose Mills; four great-grandchildren, Stephen E. Pion, Emily C. Pion, Katie Meredith Reitz and Christopher A. Reitz; one stepgreat-grandson, Michael E. Pion and his wife, Addy Pion of Enola, Pa. and one niece, Barbara Reiss and her husband, James Reiss of Virginia Beach, Va. In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary LeCompte and Laura Reynolds. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Grace United Methodist Church on Race Street in Cambridge with the Rev. Jay Hurley, the Rev. Douglas M. Ridley and the Rev. Michael D. Reddig officiating. Burial will follow at Dorchester Memorial Park. The family will receive friends tonight from 7 to 9 at Grace United Methodist Church. Active pallbearers will be Charles Blades, Stephen Pion, Christopher Reitz, Sonny Robbins, Edward Pion and Richard Reitz. Honorary pallbearers will be Leon Tschantre, Dick Lowry, Dr. Michael Fadden, Joe Feldman, Bill Deissler, Bill Brooks, Jack Brooks, Joe Brooks, Whistler Burch and Bob Davis. Memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, 501 Race St., Cambridge, MD 21613, or to the ELC Endowment Beebe Medical Foundation, 920 Savannah Rd., Lewes, DE 19958. Arrangements are being handled by the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge.