- Date Of Birth: July 25, 1945
- Date Of Death: April 25, 2016
- State: Alabama
William Clifton Clay was born on July 25, 1945 in Hillsboro, Alabama. 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” (his father was Lil Dad); 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. Like many children of his generation in Lawrence County he lived in a small town of Hillsboro and spent time in “the country”. Country life meant working on small farms, learning to milk cows, take care of the pigs, growing fresh vegetables, picking cotton and learning to drive a moving vehicle—-the tractor.
His early education was at the Courtland High School. Typical of many segregated schools of the deep South it included grades 1 – 12. Catching the bus and riding for 30–45 minutes along country roads gave him a chance to connect with cousins (on both the Clay and Watkins sides of his family) and other friends.
For a while he lived with his maternal aunt, Irene and Roy Owens.
Around nine years old he and his mother moved to the larger town of Decatur, Alabama in Morgan County. There he attended Cherry Street Elementary School. In addition to meeting life-long friends, he excelled in language skills and competed in the spelling bee. Starting in the 7th grade, he attended Lakeside High School where he was active in student government, at one time, being class president. He was a graduate of 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. His 19th birthday was celebrated driving on the historic Route 66. One of two teenage drivers, he traveled roughly 2500 miles from Alabama to California. His introduction to California was the 1957 Ford Station wagon breaking down in the Mojave desert between Needles and Barstow and being towed, finally reaching Los Angeles to begin a new life in California.
He joined the McDonald family at W. 54th Street for the next 3 years. There he married Elaine Davis. One child, Tara was born to this marriage. While on 54th they lived through the infamous Watts Riots of 1965. At the time working at a grocery store in Beverly Hills. He briefly attended Los Angeles City College and worked for the US Post Office. He would later work for various liquor stores in South LA 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 when she had a stroke herself. The two were together until his death over 40 years.
He is preceded in death by his two older brothers, Moses and Clarence, and his parents.
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.
Billy certainly had an abundance of love and joy from all his family and large circle of friends from coast to coast.
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.
