Kenneth Slay

Kenneth “Ken” Turner Slay passed away on March 9, 2025, in Madison, MS, at the age of 66. Born on August 22, 1958, in Carthage, MS, to Kenneth Max Slay and Jackie Turner Slay, Ken lived a life that honored Christ until his very last day on earth. Growing up in Hinds County, MS, Ken graduated from Forest Hill High School in 1976, followed by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in business statistics from Mississippi State University in 1980.

It’s often said that how someone handles life’s hardest battles is the ultimate test of their faith and trust in God. For Ken, his testament of faith came when he heard the diagnosis of ALS in August 2023. While many would have questioned why and felt they were dealt an unfair hand, Ken’s immediate response was, “To God be the glory.” As a family, we rejoice in his healing with God and echo Ken’s praise by saying, “To God be the glory.”

An innovative dreamer with a gift for creating, Ken loved building things from the ground up and leaving them better than he found them. After college he worked for a software developer company, knowing that he had a passion for starting up his own company. Soon after he would create a software development company with a dear friend and later sell it to Companion Technologies, which was a subsidiary of BCBS in 1998. He continued spearheading this company until 2001 and then soon began his work as a contract programmer for organizations within Jackson Metro area, including the MS Department of Transportation and MS Division of Medicaid. Whether through his work as a software developer or in his relationships with others, he had a personality that lit up a room, and it was no shock to hear someone say, “I just love some Ken Slay.”

Among his other creations, Ken loved to write and tell stories to people. It’s rare that someone can do both: write code and words, but Ken could, and he did it well. Ken was a member of MS Writers Guild and completed his first book titled “Living a Bountiful Life in a Boolean World” in 2012, which he wrote for his daughter, Mae. Ken understood the written word held power and could convey what is sometimes left unsaid. Ken’s other books included a fictional work titled “The Cloud Revelation” and a non-fiction work titled “Tiny Words, Big Life” which offered daily ponderances that provided hope, humility, and sage advice, all under 140 characters or less. A seeker at heart, not even a diagnosis of ALS diminished his love for creating. Ken spent the last year of his life building his own website platform that will continue to aid people and families with ALS to gather information and support about the disease. To see what Ken built, the family encourages all to go to: www.chatals.ai and remember Ken as you experience his brilliance and thoughtfulness with building something for others, even in his last days.

In addition to Ken’s professional endeavors, Ken loved the outdoors and spent many days at Glory Lake with his beloved wife, Ronda and other family members. An avid hunter, Ken collected firearms and was passionate about showing others, especially his grandchildren, all the great parts of wildlife and fishing. Ken loved all things Mississippi State and trained his children well to only bleed maroon and white. A lover of concerts, Ken also deeply treasured his memories with his son, Jordan, going to numerous country music shows and getting autographs at meet and greets.

Ken will be missed the most by his family. Ken is survived by his loving wife, Ronda Bagwell Slay; his mother, Jackie Slay of Terry, MS; his daughter, Mae Wright (Patrick) of Madison, MS; his sons, Jordan Slay of Brandon, MS, and Preston Saucier (Janel) of Houma, LA, and his bonus daughter, Briana Hood (Stephen) of Zachary, LA. Ken is also survived by his siblings, Tina Morgan (Dale) of Madison, MS and Michael Slay (Liz) of Hernando, MS, and many nieces and nephews. Affectionately known as K-Paw, he will be dearly missed by all of his grandchildren, including Slay, Mary Gayle and Beau (Mae), Brayden and Brookelyn (Preston), and Ruby Gale, Gideon and Grice (Briana).

Ken was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth Max Slay, as well as the mother of his children, Debra “Debbie” Ann Slay.

The family would like to thank his niece, Amanda Morgan, of Madison, MS and her team at Baptist Hospice for providing exceptional and loving care up until the very end.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request donations be made to the ALS Association in memory of Ken or to Son Valley in honor of Ken’s son, Jordan.