William Clifton Clay was born July 25, 1945 in Hillsboro. He departed this life on April 25, 2016 in Missions Hills, California. Throughout life he was known by different names to different people in different places. To his family he was called “Lil Son,” in Decatur he was called by his last name “Clay” and at times “Dirty Red” by classmates and friends, and in California he was “Billy.”
He was the third, and last son of Augusta Clay and Earlean Watkins. For a while, he lived with his maternal aunt, Irene, and Roy Owens. Around nine years old, he and his mother moved to Decatur. He was a graduate of Lakeside High School, the Class of 1963. He also played coronet in the school band, where he was recommended for a scholarship to Florida A&M University. During later life, he would regularly attend the bi-annual Lakeside school reunions.
In the summer of 1964, he decided to move to Los Angeles. He briefly attended Los Angeles City College and worked for the U.S. Post Office. He would later work for various liquor stores in South L.A. and then ADT. Billy had his first son, Patrick with Leonora Hodges. From the relationship, he gained his “adopted children” as well.
Billy met his current life partner, Diane Sweat which he had his last son, Byron. He gained his “step” child, Gina also. He was Diane’s caregiver for the last 18 years after suffering a stroke.
Clay maintained a close relationship to his Alabama roots. He looked forward to attending the bi-annual school reunions of Lakeside (formerly Decatur Negro High) and connecting with childhood classmates, friends and acquaintances. Even as he battled the effects of colon cancer, he was able to make the last reunion of 2014.
In Hillsboro, Clay attended the family home church of Flower Hill Primitive Baptist Church. In Decatur, he grew up in the St. Stephens Primitive Baptist Church. He formalized and reaffirmed his Christian commitment in February of 2016.
Billy certainly had an abundance of love and joy from all his family and large circle of friends from coast to coast.
He was preceded in death by his two older brothers, Moses and Clarence, and his parents.
Survivors include his children and adopted kids, Patrick, Byron, Gina, Dee Dee, Tara, Chris, Eric, Farrell and Nik; grandchildren, Xavier and Brooke; niece and nephews, Marietta Clay, Paul Scruggs and Blake Clay; cousins, Vivian McDaniel (PeeDee), James Clay (Gypsy), Timothy Clay, Kate Young and Elliot; niece and nephews, Marietta Clay, Paul Scruggs and Blake Clay; the Class of 1963 friends, John Thomas Dobbins, Gayanne Evans, Pathon Swoopes, Gloria Houston and Newt McDonald.
A memorial service in California will be announced at a later date.
