Elvin L. Lay was born March 2, 1958 to the late James Clifton and Annie Mae (Smith) Lay and departed this life October 22, 2024 after an extended illness.
He professed a hope in Christ at Lake Grove Baptist Church at an early age. He later became a member of Greater Middle Baptist Church in Memphis and All Nations Church of God in Jackson, Tennessee.
In his younger years, he was a skilled third-baseman in the historical WDIA Baseball League. A graduate of White Station High School, he was a basketball standout. During those years, he developed a passion for woodwork and mechanical drawing.
He began his career at Dixico Paper Company. He later moved to Jackson, Tennessee and continued to work in manufacturing. His passion was auto mechanics, brick laying, carpentry, lawn care, tree trimming and woodwork. Although self-taught, he brought innovative and unique designs to this work. He was the family’s “go to” for anything related to repair or building. He frequently provided lawn care and auto repair for his friends and neighbors for free.
He leaves to mourn him four brothers, Ardell (Geneva), Wesley (Lydia), Clifton (Delores) and Terry; and four sisters: Emma Louise Bryant, Dorothy Jenkins, Sherry Jones and Cynthia Robertson. Two brothers, James Arthur (Carolyn) Leakes and James Smith, and one sister, Janet, preceded him in death.
Also mourning his death are a host of nieces and nephews, and dear friends in Jackson and Memphis.
