Obit for Clay, Reverend Perry - Comanche County OK Thanks to http://www.amarillonet.com/ for permission to upload their obits to the USGenWeb Archives. Copyright, http://www.amarillonet.com/ 29 Jan 2006 Return to Comanche County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/comanche/comanche.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== ::NOT LISTED St John's Missionary Baptist Church Reverend Perry Clay was born 9 Jan 1914 to John and Littie Clay in Sea Stone County, Texas. He was the fifth of six children. Perry's older sister, Elizabeth, served as a surrogate mother to him after their mother died when Perry was at the tender age of five. Young Perry was born with very poor vision--so much that he was treated as if he were blind. His father took him from doctor to doctor, but none would provide him any assistance. because in those days, glasses were not made for children. Yet Perry held on to his faith in God; and at age 18, he finally got a pair of glasses. "It was as if a whole new world opened up," he said. Brother Clay was saved at the age of 14 while attending the New Hope Baptist Church in Chapel Texas. At age 21, Perry heard the voice of God. And in 1941, he was called to the ministry just before he joined the military. World War II had started. And young perry enlisted in the US Army. Having survived a rough and tough basic training, his first assignment was with the Military Police Group of the 31st Field Artillery at Fort Sill, Okla. Prior to entering the military, Perry had preached only two or three sermons. And after getting out of the Army, he married the mother of his nine children and later became a member of the Greater Galilee Baptist Church of Lawton, Okla. Because he was not licensed before entering the Army, the pastor of Greater Galilee, Rev. M. W. Johnson, required Minister Clay to serve as a deacon before granting him a license to preach. Then, for one years, Perry was required to preach from behind the offering table. Spurred by God's call, Minster Clay used his G.I. Bill to attend the Langston University School of Religion in Langston, Okla. He attended the school during the week and came home on the weekends to see his family and to work. On Sunday nights he returned to Langston. He graduated in 1954. After being ordained and serving as assistant pastor to Rev. M.W. Johnson, who was now blind--which required Minister Clay to take on the bulk of the pastoral duties--Brother Clay was called to paster the St. John Baptist Church in Altus, Okla., in 1955. In 1961, he returned to Lawton and served as the pastor of St. James Baptist Church until 1982. That year, God in His divine wisdom, placed Perry Clay (retired at that time) in the midst of St. John's Missionary Baptist Church, Lawton Okla.; and in 1983, under the tutelage of Rev. J.L. Davenport, Brother Clay became assistant pastor at St. John's. Further, he served twice as interim paster of St. John's. Brother Clay was active in the local, district, state, and national affiliations of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, and the National Baptist Convention Inc., USA. He was a nationally certified instructor of Christina education and taught at all levels. And he was a charter member of the Lawton Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance. Perry Clay was a loyal member of the St. John's Missionary Baptist Church; he was active in all the auxiliaries of the church, and he remained an active member until his health prevented him from attending. In addition to being the assistant pastor, Brother Clay was also the adult class Sunday school teacher. After may years of faithful service, the Reverend Perry Clay entered into eternal rest on Tuesday morning December 21, 2004, surrounded by his loved ones at his home. Survivors include five daughters and a son-in-law: Vera and Gregory Jackson, Colorado Springs, Colo., Dorothy Williams, Elizabeth Clay, Juanita Clay and Sherry Clay, all of Lawton, Okla.; three sons and three daughters-in-law: Robert and Mary Clay, Atlanta, Ga.; Charles and Cindy Clay, Lawton, Okla.; and John and Stephanie Clay, Little Rock Ark.; a daughter-in-law, Eloise; Bernice Melvin, whom he helped raise, and her husband, the Rev. Namon C Melvin Sr., Lawton, Okla.; a stepdaughter and a son-in-law, Mary and Haywood Moore, Lawton, Okla,; forty-two grandchildren; fifty-nine great- grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; and many nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sons; a daughter; peternal and maternal grandparents; two sisters; two brother; his wife, Almeter Richardson Clay; and his wife Juanita Bell Clay. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Comanche County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/comanche/comanche.html