Johnny Henry Clay, Jr. was born on January 18, 1934 in Laurel, Mississippi to John Henry Clay, Sr. & Virgie Hubbard Clay. He has a younger brother, Ezra Alonzo Clay who was a retired school teacher from the Houston Independent School District, who passed away about 7 years ago. John was educated in the Laurel public schools including Oak Park High School where he has been honored by being named to the school's Hall of Fame. While in high school, during the summers, John worked at Sears Roebuck & Company. He usually worked in the auto department & he also dug trenches for building foundations. John went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree from Alcorn State University. He was inducted into the Alcorn State University Hall of Fame in August 1998. Just after graduation from college, John was drafted on August 20, 1957. His basic training took place at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. After basic training, he was assigned to serve out the rest of his duty at Fort Sam Houston, B.A.M.C. in San Antonio, Texas. While stationed in San Antonio, he met Ruby Jean Garcia & they discovered they had a mutual love of dancing. One year later, they were married on August 15, 1959. John went on to serve in the Army Reserve in Galveston, Texas. John & Ruby made their home in Corpus Christi for over 40 years. John also earned a Master of Science degree from Texas A & I University at Kingsville & pursued further studies at Corpus Christi State University. His teaching career had been diverse. Besides his years at Solomon Coles Junior/Senior High School, he also taught at Cunningham Junior High School where he led the baseball team to the City Championship. He was head baseball coach at Moody High School, served as assistant principal at Wynne Seale Junior High, assistant principal at Baker Middle School, worked at the Educational Service Center for 10 years, & concluded his career with the Corpus Christi Independent School District in 1993 after serving as assistant principal at Mary Carroll High School for 4 years. John's fondest memories of teaching, however, were his years at Solomon M. Coles School where he taught health, physical education, & civics. He enjoyed meeting young men & women he taught such as Gates Hardeman, Wilbur Howard, Johnny Elias, Clarence Jefferson, Robert Floyd, Aaron Hodges, "Chillie" Floyd, Herman Park, Charles Henderson, Jimmy Hall, James Randle, Earl Baldwin, Pat Collier, A. J. Collier, Janie Davis, & Mary & Martha Mitchell. He proudly remembers that Solomon Coles High School won the First State Baseball Championship in Corpus Christi. John & Ruby are members of St. Matthew Missionary Baptist Church. They enjoyed their retirement by managing their rental properties, traveling to casinos & seeing their grandchildren. John is survived by his loving wife of nearly 50 years, Ruby Jean Clay; his children, Dr. Yolanda Clay-Po (Richard); John Henry Clay IV, & Thomas Hubbard Clay; 6 grandchildren & one great grandchild. Visitation will be held from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Friday June 26, 2009 at Seaside Funeral Home. A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday June 27, 2009 at the Seaside Funeral Home Chapel with interment to follow at Seaside Memorial Park. Reception to follow at St. Matthew Missionary Baptist Church. To view guestbook, leave condolences & share memories please visit www.seasidefuneral.com
Seaside Memorial Park & Funeral Home 4357 Ocean Drive 992-9411 www.seasidefuneral.com
Corpus Christi Caller Times June 2009