Obituary, Raleigh County, West Virginia 1895

Mrs. Aura "Awry" Clay was born in Giles County, Virginia, Jan. 30, 1812, and departed this life July 18, 1895, aged 83 years, 5 months and 19 days. She was the youngest child of a family of 24 children and daughter of Ralph and Mary "Polly" Stewart. She has only one brother surviving her, Hon. Charles Stewart, Sr., of Wyoming County. She united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1825 and lived not only a consistent, but a warm, zealous, practical christian life for 70 years. “Praise the Lord!” Christianity is no failure with Mother Clay, it was a practical pay down system.

She was united in marriage with Charles L. Clay in 1828. He passed away in full triumph of faith some eleven years ago. She was the mother of 15 children, ten sons and five daughters, nine of whom are still living, six have preceded her to the great beyond.

Farewell, Mother Clay. She lived right and died well. Let the bells toll, let the curtain fall. Aunt Awry has passed away from Earth gone beyond the clouds and dwells in that far away home of the soul. “That land of pure delight where saints immortal reign.” She’s an angel now, a child of god, a daughter of resurrection.

Children and Grandchildren of Mother Clay, weep not and sorrow no more. We can look through a glass (by faith) and see dimly glimpses of Heavenly glory, and know in part. But she is seeing face to face, and knowing even as she is also known. Upon her grave I would drop a tear, and place emblems of love, purity, and affection symbolizing the pure life she lived. Awry Clay was a noble woman. Peace to her ashes.

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Aura "Awry" Stewart Clay was born in Giles County, Virginia. Her parents were Captain Ralph Stewart and Mary "Polly" Clay Stewart. In 1824 she was living in what would become Wyoming County, Virginia (now West Virginia) and married her first cousin, Charles Lewis Clay. He was the son Mitchell and Judah Clay. Her mother, Mary, and his father, Mitchell, were brother and sister.

In 1847 Aura and her family moved to Fayette County, Virginia (now Raleigh County, West Virginia). They settled first on the waters of Breckenridge Creek. Later she made her permanent home in Marsh Fork District and lived there until she died at Bee Branch, West Virginia.

Charles and Aura had 15 children. This is a list of the known children:
Rebecca Jane Clay
Drucilla Clay
Greenville Wyatt Clay
Henry Byron Clay
Mitchell M Clay
James Mandeville Clay
Ralph Stewart Clay
Lucinda B Clay
William Kemper Clay
Mary Caroline Clay
Charles Clay
Araminta Clay