SHELBY- Mr. George W. Clay, Jr., 89, of 509 Woodside Drive., died, Thursday, September 13, 2012 at Cleveland Regional Medical Center. He was the son of Rev. George W. and Carrie Atkins Clay. Born, July 6, 1923, he always said that the July 4th fireworks scared him so he decided to wait until the commotion was over.
Being in the family of a Methodist minister, they moved often, but he finished high school in Mt. Pleasant, NC.
Always an athlete, he lettered in four sports. He enrolled at Brevard Junior College, but during his freshman year, war was declared.
He then joined the U.S. Navy, being selected for Naval Flight School. After finally finishing, he had orders to go to a carrier in the Pacific Theater, when the Pensacola Base Commander called him in and asked him if he would stay as a fighter gunnery instructor. This delighted him because it gave him the chance to ask Frances Jones to marry him. After the war, he decided to enroll in Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service, at that time located in Nashville.
His wife, Frances, returned to work at the Lily Mill and supported the family during his two years of school.
He returned to Shelby, working for Lutz-Austell Funeral Home. In 1960, he decided to open his own business, and again with the support of Frances, he started Clay-Barnette Funeral Home, finally retiring in 2002.
He had a great love of farming, racing pigeons, and his beagles. He was proud of his public service, serving 16 years on City Council, then 16 more as Mayor of Shelby. He also served for several years as President of NC Electric Cities. He and Frances are charter members of Aldersgate United Methodist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his younger brother, W.F. Clay.
Burial with Military Honors Sunset Cemetery
SHELBY — Ethical. Soft spoken. Decent and supportive. The complimentary words and phrases to describe George Clay Jr. are endless.
His son, George Clay III, learned at a young age that his father loved people.
"He enjoyed being out in the public through his work," George said. "He always wanted Shelby to live up to its motto, the City of Pleasant Living."
George Clay Jr., 89, a former Shelby mayor, city council member and co-founder of Clay-Barnette Funeral Home, passed away Thursday.
Clay, a lover of racing pigeons, farming and beagles served 16 years as a Shelby mayor, one of the longest terms in the city. Former Shelby mayor Ted Alexander remembered how pivotal Clay was in revitalizing the city's uptown area. He said Clay worked to transform the Old Belk Building along South Lafayette Street into the home of offices and restaurants along the block.
"That demonstrated to me his support for our revitalization of our uptown," Alexander said. "He was so well-respected, very gracious."
Clay also leaves behind his wife, Frances Jones Clay. They were married for 68 years.
Clay wanted the best for Shelby.
Eric Bester and his wife Kayce purchased Clay-Barnette in 2002 when Clay retired. He's heard endless stories from people about Clay. They talked about how the World War II Navy veteran helped them in difficult life situations.
"I could not have found a more honest and ethical individual to acquire a business from. He was certainly a joy to work with," Bester said.
George reflected on how his parents supported him through college. Now a dentist who practices in Hickory, he said he's thankful for his parents' sacrifices. He remembered how his father worked into the night running the funeral home. He may not have spent a lot of time at home, but George said his father was good at his work.
"It makes me feel good that the funeral home is still running. He was giving a service to people in their time of need. He was really good at it," George said.
Clay never lost his gracious demeanor throughout the years. Alexander saw a glimpse of that at a meeting last year with Clay, other former mayors and current mayor Stan Anthony.
"His heart was truly in his business, not only as a funeral home owner, but as a mayor of Shelby," Bester said. "He was a very, well-loved mayor."
Being in the family of a Methodist minister, they moved often, but he finished high school in Mt. Pleasant, NC.
Always an athlete, he lettered in four sports. He enrolled at Brevard Junior College, but during his freshman year, war was declared.
He then joined the U.S. Navy, being selected for Naval Flight School. After finally finishing, he had orders to go to a carrier in the Pacific Theater, when the Pensacola Base Commander called him in and asked him if he would stay as a fighter gunnery instructor. This delighted him because it gave him the chance to ask Frances Jones to marry him. After the war, he decided to enroll in Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service, at that time located in Nashville.
His wife, Frances, returned to work at the Lily Mill and supported the family during his two years of school.
He returned to Shelby, working for Lutz-Austell Funeral Home. In 1960, he decided to open his own business, and again with the support of Frances, he started Clay-Barnette Funeral Home, finally retiring in 2002.
He had a great love of farming, racing pigeons, and his beagles. He was proud of his public service, serving 16 years on City Council, then 16 more as Mayor of Shelby. He also served for several years as President of NC Electric Cities. He and Frances are charter members of Aldersgate United Methodist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his younger brother, W.F. Clay.
Burial with Military Honors Sunset Cemetery
SHELBY — Ethical. Soft spoken. Decent and supportive. The complimentary words and phrases to describe George Clay Jr. are endless.
His son, George Clay III, learned at a young age that his father loved people.
"He enjoyed being out in the public through his work," George said. "He always wanted Shelby to live up to its motto, the City of Pleasant Living."
George Clay Jr., 89, a former Shelby mayor, city council member and co-founder of Clay-Barnette Funeral Home, passed away Thursday.
Clay, a lover of racing pigeons, farming and beagles served 16 years as a Shelby mayor, one of the longest terms in the city. Former Shelby mayor Ted Alexander remembered how pivotal Clay was in revitalizing the city's uptown area. He said Clay worked to transform the Old Belk Building along South Lafayette Street into the home of offices and restaurants along the block.
"That demonstrated to me his support for our revitalization of our uptown," Alexander said. "He was so well-respected, very gracious."
Clay also leaves behind his wife, Frances Jones Clay. They were married for 68 years.
Clay wanted the best for Shelby.
Eric Bester and his wife Kayce purchased Clay-Barnette in 2002 when Clay retired. He's heard endless stories from people about Clay. They talked about how the World War II Navy veteran helped them in difficult life situations.
"I could not have found a more honest and ethical individual to acquire a business from. He was certainly a joy to work with," Bester said.
George reflected on how his parents supported him through college. Now a dentist who practices in Hickory, he said he's thankful for his parents' sacrifices. He remembered how his father worked into the night running the funeral home. He may not have spent a lot of time at home, but George said his father was good at his work.
"It makes me feel good that the funeral home is still running. He was giving a service to people in their time of need. He was really good at it," George said.
Clay never lost his gracious demeanor throughout the years. Alexander saw a glimpse of that at a meeting last year with Clay, other former mayors and current mayor Stan Anthony.
"His heart was truly in his business, not only as a funeral home owner, but as a mayor of Shelby," Bester said. "He was a very, well-loved mayor."
SHELBY- Mr. George W. Clay, Jr., 89, of 509 Woodside Drive., died, Thursday, September 13, 2012 at Cleveland Regional Medical Center. He was the son of Rev. George W. and Carrie Atkins Clay. Born, July 6, 1923, he always said that the July 4th fireworks scared him so he decided to wait until the commotion was over.
Being in the family of a Methodist minister, they moved often, but he finished high school in Mt. Pleasant, NC.
Always an athlete, he lettered in four sports. He enrolled at Brevard Junior College, but during his freshman year, war was declared.
He then joined the U.S. Navy, being selected for Naval Flight School. After finally finishing, he had orders to go to a carrier in the Pacific Theater, when the Pensacola Base Commander called him in and asked him if he would stay as a fighter gunnery instructor. This delighted him because it gave him the chance to ask Frances Jones to marry him. After the war, he decided to enroll in Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service, at that time located in Nashville.
His wife, Frances, returned to work at the Lily Mill and supported the family during his two years of school.
He returned to Shelby, working for Lutz-Austell Funeral Home. In 1960, he decided to open his own business, and again with the support of Frances, he started Clay-Barnette Funeral Home, finally retiring in 2002.
He had a great love of farming, racing pigeons, and his beagles. He was proud of his public service, serving 16 years on City Council, then 16 more as Mayor of Shelby. He also served for several years as President of NC Electric Cities. He and Frances are charter members of Aldersgate United Methodist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his younger brother, W.F. Clay.
Burial with Military Honors Sunset Cemetery
SHELBY — Ethical. Soft spoken. Decent and supportive. The complimentary words and phrases to describe George Clay Jr. are endless.
His son, George Clay III, learned at a young age that his father loved people.
"He enjoyed being out in the public through his work," George said. "He always wanted Shelby to live up to its motto, the City of Pleasant Living."
George Clay Jr., 89, a former Shelby mayor, city council member and co-founder of Clay-Barnette Funeral Home, passed away Thursday.
Clay, a lover of racing pigeons, farming and beagles served 16 years as a Shelby mayor, one of the longest terms in the city. Former Shelby mayor Ted Alexander remembered how pivotal Clay was in revitalizing the city's uptown area. He said Clay worked to transform the Old Belk Building along South Lafayette Street into the home of offices and restaurants along the block.
"That demonstrated to me his support for our revitalization of our uptown," Alexander said. "He was so well-respected, very gracious."
Clay also leaves behind his wife, Frances Jones Clay. They were married for 68 years.
Clay wanted the best for Shelby.
Eric Bester and his wife Kayce purchased Clay-Barnette in 2002 when Clay retired. He's heard endless stories from people about Clay. They talked about how the World War II Navy veteran helped them in difficult life situations.
"I could not have found a more honest and ethical individual to acquire a business from. He was certainly a joy to work with," Bester said.
George reflected on how his parents supported him through college. Now a dentist who practices in Hickory, he said he's thankful for his parents' sacrifices. He remembered how his father worked into the night running the funeral home. He may not have spent a lot of time at home, but George said his father was good at his work.
"It makes me feel good that the funeral home is still running. He was giving a service to people in their time of need. He was really good at it," George said.
Clay never lost his gracious demeanor throughout the years. Alexander saw a glimpse of that at a meeting last year with Clay, other former mayors and current mayor Stan Anthony.
"His heart was truly in his business, not only as a funeral home owner, but as a mayor of Shelby," Bester said. "He was a very, well-loved mayor."
Being in the family of a Methodist minister, they moved often, but he finished high school in Mt. Pleasant, NC.
Always an athlete, he lettered in four sports. He enrolled at Brevard Junior College, but during his freshman year, war was declared.
He then joined the U.S. Navy, being selected for Naval Flight School. After finally finishing, he had orders to go to a carrier in the Pacific Theater, when the Pensacola Base Commander called him in and asked him if he would stay as a fighter gunnery instructor. This delighted him because it gave him the chance to ask Frances Jones to marry him. After the war, he decided to enroll in Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service, at that time located in Nashville.
His wife, Frances, returned to work at the Lily Mill and supported the family during his two years of school.
He returned to Shelby, working for Lutz-Austell Funeral Home. In 1960, he decided to open his own business, and again with the support of Frances, he started Clay-Barnette Funeral Home, finally retiring in 2002.
He had a great love of farming, racing pigeons, and his beagles. He was proud of his public service, serving 16 years on City Council, then 16 more as Mayor of Shelby. He also served for several years as President of NC Electric Cities. He and Frances are charter members of Aldersgate United Methodist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his younger brother, W.F. Clay.
Burial with Military Honors Sunset Cemetery
SHELBY — Ethical. Soft spoken. Decent and supportive. The complimentary words and phrases to describe George Clay Jr. are endless.
His son, George Clay III, learned at a young age that his father loved people.
"He enjoyed being out in the public through his work," George said. "He always wanted Shelby to live up to its motto, the City of Pleasant Living."
George Clay Jr., 89, a former Shelby mayor, city council member and co-founder of Clay-Barnette Funeral Home, passed away Thursday.
Clay, a lover of racing pigeons, farming and beagles served 16 years as a Shelby mayor, one of the longest terms in the city. Former Shelby mayor Ted Alexander remembered how pivotal Clay was in revitalizing the city's uptown area. He said Clay worked to transform the Old Belk Building along South Lafayette Street into the home of offices and restaurants along the block.
"That demonstrated to me his support for our revitalization of our uptown," Alexander said. "He was so well-respected, very gracious."
Clay also leaves behind his wife, Frances Jones Clay. They were married for 68 years.
Clay wanted the best for Shelby.
Eric Bester and his wife Kayce purchased Clay-Barnette in 2002 when Clay retired. He's heard endless stories from people about Clay. They talked about how the World War II Navy veteran helped them in difficult life situations.
"I could not have found a more honest and ethical individual to acquire a business from. He was certainly a joy to work with," Bester said.
George reflected on how his parents supported him through college. Now a dentist who practices in Hickory, he said he's thankful for his parents' sacrifices. He remembered how his father worked into the night running the funeral home. He may not have spent a lot of time at home, but George said his father was good at his work.
"It makes me feel good that the funeral home is still running. He was giving a service to people in their time of need. He was really good at it," George said.
Clay never lost his gracious demeanor throughout the years. Alexander saw a glimpse of that at a meeting last year with Clay, other former mayors and current mayor Stan Anthony.
"His heart was truly in his business, not only as a funeral home owner, but as a mayor of Shelby," Bester said. "He was a very, well-loved mayor."
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