CLAY, Horace Eugene. We rejoice that he is now with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He left this earth on October 8, 2009, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Born September 5, 1928, he was preceded in death by his wife, Gladys "Happy" Clay; and his parents, Captain Jackson Clay and Bettie Brown Clay of Richmond, Va. Also preceding him in death were three sisters, Flo Scheiding of Pittsburgh, Pa., Mary Tuck of Richmond, Va., and Betty Maude Hamner of Richmond, Va. Mr. Clay served in the Korean War, was shelter chairman for the Red Cross in the city of Richmond, a member of Masonic Lodge 131 of Glen Allen, Va., and a past member of the Lakeside Lion's Club. He was a graduate of Benedictine High School in Richmond, Va. He held academic diplomas with honors from William and Mary, Mississippi College, Union Theological Seminary, and the University of Virginia. He also studied at V.C.U., Penn State University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He served for many years in the Richmond City Public School System as their director of Plant Services. He was recognized many times for his love and devotion to the school system. He also served as minister of music in several Richmond area Baptist churches, and was most recently a member of Grove Avenue Baptist Church in Richmond, Va. Mr. Clay is survived by two sons, Horace Eugene Clay Jr. and Robert Edward Clay, both of Richmond; a daughter, Alice Clay Mahone and her husband, Thomas David Mahone; two grandsons, Stephen Clay Mahone and Kinloch Scott Mahone of Charlottesville, Virginia; a sister, Pauline Murphy of Belford, New Jersey, and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Grove Avenue Baptist Church, 8701 Ridge Road, Richmond, Va. 23229, or Hospice House of the Piedmont, 501 Park St., Charlottesville, Va. 22902, who provided such loving and supportive care during his final months. A private memorial service will be held Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Grove Avenue Baptist Church in Richmond. Friends may send condolences to the family at www.hillandwood.com.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Thanks for your friendship since 2000 at Grove Avenue Baptist Church. You were such a friend to me when I moved to Richmond and was in your Sunday School Class. I will always treasure your friendship, help and kindness you showed to me. I know you are with our Lord and Savior!May your family receive comfort and strength from our Lord in the days to come.
Faye and Jay Stewart
Roanoke, VA
October 11, 2009
Thanks for your wonderful friendship and advice the past 15 years. My family and I will miss you but know you are rejoicing with friends and loved ones in Heaven.
Carra Kumpe
October 10, 2009 | Charlottesville, VA
Dear Alice & family,
Our hearts go out to you and all the family. Momma spoke with such love & respect of Uncle Jeep. We will cherish our memories of him, indeed. We pray that your memories will bring you all comfort and peace throughout this time. Love & prayers,
Joe & Debbie Tuck & family
October 09, 2009 | Montvale,, VA
I just recently got to know Gene, but we had a very special bond. I went to visit him almost daily for the last couple of months at the Hospice House. More times than not, he was the one who cheered me up and made me laugh. He is a very special person to me. I know that he is heaven smiling down at us now. I look forward to seeing him when I get there!
Nina Flynn
October 09, 2009
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your entire family. We are indeed sorry. Jeep was in our wedding in 1954 and he was a brother to my aunt, Mary Tuck. Since he was a part of our Bon Air life for many years, he'll be surely missed.
Frances and Web Brown
October 09, 2009 | Vienna, VA
It has been many years since I have seen Jeep, but I will always cherish the many happy memories of Jeep playing the drums at our house in Bon Air, being so full of fun and such a happy person. I always had a "secret crush" on Jeep and thought he was the greatest!!! Martue Sneed Brownson
Martue Brownson
October 09, 2009 | Richmond, VA
We love you Papa Gene - you were so special to our family - and we're grateful for all of the days we had you as an adoptive grandpa - we'll miss you here but have fun in heaven! Abigail & Michael Sadikoglu
October 09, 2009
I just got an email from my mother this morning and I am so sorry to hear about Uncle "Jeep" passing away. I know he was loved by not only my grandmother, Mary, but by many, many people. My prayers, and the prayers of many others here in Africa, will be with you all during this time. God bless you.
Jen Tuck
October 09, 2009 | Montvale, VA
