Beverly Ann Clayton

Beverly Clayton

(1938–2025)

Beverly Ann (Kennedy) Clayton, 87, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 26, during a brief hospital stay.

Beverly was born in Silver Spring, MD, on August 10, 1938, to Louise and Richard ("Dick") Kennedy. She spent her early childhood as most "military brats" do, moving from one base to another until her father was honorably discharged from the Army. They returned to the family home in Silver Spring where she lived until adulthood with her parents, her maternal grandmother, and her two sisters Virginia ("Biggie") and Imogene. Bev attended Montgomery Blair High School before starting work as a secretary for the General Electric Company in 1956. Two years later, she married Stephen Allen Clayton and soon after became a full-time mother and homemaker. In 1965 she and Steve bought the house in Aspen Hill that she called home for the rest of her life.

Beverly was a fiercely devoted mother to four children: Shari, Ginny, Cathy, and Steve. She always said that the happiest time of her life was during their childhoods, raising them and being their mother, and they felt that throughout her life in the love and support she provided. After Bev and Steve divorced in 1974, she re-entered the workforce as a medical secretary at Montgomery General Hospital in Olney, MD. This path led to her first civil service job with the Naval Medical Research Institute in Bethesda, MD, marking the beginning of her 45-year career with the U.S. Government, which culminated at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as a certified Licensing Assistant, earning many commendations and service awards before reluctantly retiring at the age of 81. Her children are especially proud of her determined efforts to achieve success in her career, including her taking evening classes in a variety of subjects, in particular a sign language class to better communicate with a co-worker.

Bev took a lifelong interest and a special joy in her animal companions, particularly her dogs and parrots. There were always dogs (up to three at a time) sharing her home: Trixie, Jetina, Coquette, Benji, Vicky, Jinx, Terri, Chloe, and Lacie. She raised and loved three parrots, Napoleon, Quincy, and Chili. Over the years she and her children also welcomed and loved two cats, Tiki and Bluffy, plus an array of guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters, fish, parakeets, cockatiels, rabbits, and a lab-rescue rat. Bev's fondest and most cherished memories were those where she, her children, and grandchildren laughed uncontrollably while playing with her pets.

Bev's hobbies included bowling, sewing, crafting, ceramics, collecting porcelain dolls, and more. The Christmas season was her favorite time of year; she delighted in gift shopping, decorating, and hosting the annual family Christmas gathering. She also enjoyed many memorable visits and outings with dear friends and colleagues over the years, sharing dinners at various local restaurants, going to the movies, lunches at the park, and attending musical theater productions.

Beverly was preceded in death by her father, Richard Magruder Kennedy; her mother, Louise Drusilla Hall Kennedy; her sister, Virginia Ruth Kennedy; and her daughter, Catherine Ann Clayton. She is survived by sister, Imogene Louise (Kennedy) Franklin and husband, Tom; children Sharon Lynn Clayton Brownlee and husband, Bruce; Virginia Ruth (Clayton) Hunt; Stephen Allen Clayton, Jr. and wife, Laine; grandchildren and great grandchildren Ryan Tabassi and daughter, Sophia; Jonathan Hunt and son, Jaxson; Josiah Hunt and wife, Sara; Victoria Hunt and husband, Jeremy; Savannah Stanier; Robert Stanier; Maxine Brown, husband, Chris, and children, Christopher and Paige; and Stephen Clayton III and daughter, Tallulah; nieces and nephew Teresa Morn, Ricky Franklin and Kelly Rosette, who will never forget the love and joy she brought to their lives.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on December 17, 2025 at 1:00 pm at Snowden Funeral Home in Rockville, MD. Donations in her name to the Montgomery County Maryland Humane Society are appreciated.

If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.

- James Herriot