Obituaries:  Tony Clay, Sabine Parish       C-400
Source:  Sabine Index, Many, La., Nov 24, 1977
Submitted by: Carl Dilbeck
              carlrad@earthlink.net


**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************

Tony Clay (Photo)

  A 15 year old boy was allegedly shot and killed by his father,
according to the Sabine Parish Sheriff's Dept. The incident
occurred in a mobile home on the Airport Road west of Many, at
approximately 7 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 17.

  Dead was Tony Clay, a freshman at Many High School.

  Arrested and charged with manslaughter was the boy's father,
Eddie Clay.

  The shooting incident came during an early morning argument,
before the boy left for school, deputies said. Following the
shooting, Jenkins Ambulance Service was called. Upon arrival, Ann
Shirley Thompson, a registered EMT, found the boy dead. She
radioed for the local authorities.

  Clay was originally booked into the Sabine Parish Jail on
homicide investigation. After an extensive two day investigation,
however, manslaughter charges were filed.

  The family, several of them believed to be witnesses of the
tragedy, claims that the shooting was accidental. Family members
allege that during an argument, Clay grabbed a shotgun to
frighten the child. The gun allegedly went off, family members
stated. The also stated that the gun was usually empty, but that
Clay had heard prowlers the night before, and had loaded the gun.

  Funeral services for the child were held on Sunday, Nov. 20, at
2 p.m., at the New Jerusalem Baptist Church.

  Officiating was the Rev. Lee Collier, who was assisted by the
Rev. L. D. Davis, church pastor.

  Burial was at the New Jerusalem Cemetery, under the direction of
Jenkins Funeral Home.

  Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Clay; and
eleven brothers and sisters, Mae Ella Johnson of Florien, Eddie
Dean Clay of Leesville, Lou Della Ruff of Shreveport, Ralph Clay,
Tommy Clay, Ray Louis Clay, Bobby Clay, Charlene Clay, Shirley
Clay, Minnie Tilmon, and Roger Clay, all of Many.

  Tony was remembered as a likable child by a former teacher. He
played football on the Many Junior High team, while a student
there.