Ms.Clara Elizabeth Gay was born on February 17, 1937 to the late Charlie and Ella Mae (Boykins) Gay in Sussex County, Wakefield, Virginia. She was one of four children. On January 2, 2021, Clara received her wings and gracefully took God’s hand as she entered into eternal rest.
A graveside service will be held on Sunday, Jan 10 at noon at Booker T Memorial Gardens in Wakefield, VA. Rev. Jerry Parham will officiate.
In her early years Clara was employed as a domestic worker. In 1970 she relocated to Washington, DC to be a caregiver for her aunt, Janet (Boykins) Smith. She was a proud and faithful member at the Vermont Avenue Baptist Church for over 40 years. She was an active member in the Baptist Training Union and enjoyed serving with the February Fellowship Ministry where she was known for her coconut cakes and chicken salad.
She was employed by the Westwood Retirement Home in Bethesda, Maryland as a CNA where she retired after 32 years of service. After retirement she returned to Wakefield and remained until March 2017 when her health began to fail. She moved to Lyman, SC with her daughter and son-in-law.
An avid storyteller, she was affectionately known as Liz, Old Lady, Aunt Claire, Clarabelle, Granny C, Sugar Baby and Well Gee. She loved to cook, play horseshoes, have picnics at the beach and attend family gatherings. She enjoyed watching football, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, Family Feud and Judge Judy. She will be missed, but we are thankful to God for the time we had to share with her.
Her fondest memories will be remembered by her one loving daughter Deirdre Dixon (Gerald), one granddaughter Kristal Johnson and one grandson Darius, one sister, Hazel Gay, one nephew Andre Gay, Sr (Margo), two nieces, Wanda and Julia Johnson, one first cousin, Raymond Boykins, 11 “EXTRA” great-grandchildren, her “play daughters” Glenez Hilton and Harriet Claiborne, “her little boy”, John Stringfield, a longtime classmate Elnora Ward and a host of great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
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