Alexis "Ally" Clayton

1994 - 2021

Alexis "Ally" Clayton

Knoxville - On January 24, 2021, one of Knoxville's brightest lights was extinguished in one horrible moment.

The devastating effect of the senseless murder of Alexis "Ally" Clayton is reverberating throughout Knoxville and through the hundreds, if not thousands, of lives she touched with her loving spirit, her joy, her creativity, her sensitivity, and her passion for the causes and activities to which she was dedicated. No one feels the loss more deeply than her only surviving family member, her sister Lauren Quinton, a pharmacist who resides in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Their only other sibling, Dillon died in 2017.

Ally, age 26 was born in Blainesville, Ga. on August 29, 1994. She attended school in Ellijay, Ga. and attended college in Dalton, Ga. for a short time. In 2014, she and her sister Lauren moved to Knoxville so that Lauren could attend pharmacy school at South College. Ally, four years younger agreed to join her to help care for her sister's young daughter while also working as a server to earn her own income. Because she loved interacting with people, working as a server allowed her to interact with a variety of people while also providing time to pursue numerous personal activities. Patrons of Carrabas, First Watch, and more recently Cazzy's often would request her as their server. Her engaging, positive personality was uplifting. Her ability to listen and then remember the details she had learned created long-term friendships.

The circumstances of Ally's early family life provided very little stability and support, so Ally learned to be frugal, self-reliant, and willing to work hard at a young age. Material acquisitions were far less important than friendships and the freedom to express her creative, artistic personality. In high school she participated in drama productions. In Knoxville, her love for comedy and drama and her delightful sense of humor led her to becoming very active in the local comedy scene. She performed at Comedy Club and numerous venues with others and alone. Her favorite pastime was reading, sometimes reading an entire book in one day. Among her many dreams was the dream of saving enough money so she could study writing and someday write books of her own. The current love of her life was her dog, Atlas. Her favorite flower was the sunflower which others felt reflected her bright, sunny disposition which could light up a room on a cloudy day.

Her sensitivity and empathy for others led to her becoming an advocate for equality for all people. Her sister referred to her as a young "Ruth Bader Ginsburg" who admired older trailblazing women who served as role models for her. At every opportunity she would try to learn from women she admired, asking endless questions as to how they had achieved their dreams.

Her many friends agree that to know Alexis ("Ally") was to know a truly genuine, compassionate, loving human being. To lose her at such a young age to a senseless act of violence is not only incomprehensible, it is simply unbearable to experience alone.

The public is invited to the Memorial Gathering on Sunday, January 31, 2021 from 4-7 p.m. at Unity Mortuary, 1425 McCalla Avenue, to pay their respects and celebrate Ally's life. Photos and a memorial tribute will be shared. Due to COVID-19 protocols, guests are asked to wear face covering and to practice social distancing. Information on several GoFundMe campaigns will be available on-line and at the event. Unity Mortuary is honored to serve the Clayton family. www.unitymortuary1979.com