- Date Of Birth: August 29, 1919
- Date Of Death: May 1, 2014
- State: North Carolina
DURHAM- Allene Sears Clayton passed away peacefully with her family by her side at Brandermill Woods Healthcare Center on May 1, 2014. She was born in Bexar, Arkansas to the late Pledger and Ellen Sears on August 29, 1919. Allene was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph E. Clayton; son, E. Lynn Clayton; sister, Latain Gilstrap; brothers, Haskell and Carroll Sears; sister-in-law, Vestal and Jimmie Sears; and brothers-in-law Harry Gilstrap, William Bales, Cecil Smith and Gaylon Perryman.
She is survived by two sons, Ken Clayton (Gail) of Chesterfield, VA; and Jerry Clayton (Patricia) of Durham; daughter-in-law, Maria Clayton of Gainesville, TX; six grandchildren, Bruce Clayton (Nicole) of Durham; Kristen Clayton of Greensboro; Ashley Clayton of Richmond, VA; Brent Clayton of St. Paul, MN; Alison Clayton of Chicago, IL; and Brandon Clayton of Chesterfield, VA; two great-grandchildren, Bruce and Spaulding Clayton of Durham; four sisters, Velta Bales of Greenwood, MO; Lena Smith of Raytown MO; Vonda Sanders (Carmon) of Bexar AR; and Georgia Perryman of Viola, AR. Allene spent most of her married life in Greensboro before moving to Durham, and then to Chesterfield, VA. She was a devoted wife and mother and her dedication to her faith was always evident in the way she lived her life. Fondly known as Nanny after the birth of her first grandchild, she was never too busy to attend sporting events with her sons, help her husband in the family business, or read stories and bake cookies for the grandchildren. Allene shared her talent and love of music throughout her life. It began with singing around the piano with family and friends and evolved to church choir, then a senior citizens quartet, and finally around the piano and in the halls of Brandermill Woods Healthcare Center. The family would like to thank the staff of Brandermill Woods for the loving care they have given “our dear Nana” over the past seven years.
