Alton Gray Clayton

HENDERSON-Alton Gray Clayton, 86, of Woodland Road, died April 1, 2024 at his home. Born July 28, 1937 in Vance County, he was the son of the late Herbert Gill Clayton and Leah Elizabeth Davis Clayton and was the widower of Nancy White Clayton. Alton was a member of First Baptist Church in Henderson and graduated from Zeb Vance High School and exhibited exceptional athletic ability. He signed a professional baseball contract with the Milwaukee Braves, but his professional career was cut short due to an injury in spring training. However, while serving in the US Army he was named athlete of the year in both basketball and baseball while stationed at Fort Riley in Kansas. Alton started a career in 1962 with RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company and was well known and respected in the tobacco industry. He retired as a senior buyer. Alton was very interested in genealogy and extremely proud that the Clayton farm was designated as a Century Farm by the state of North Carolina. He was known for his visits to neighbors and family bringing vegetables and fruit from the gardens he grew. A graveside service will be held at Sunset Gardens on Thursday, April 4th, at 11:00 am by the Rev. Mark Hopper. The family will receive friends after the service at Sunset Gardens. He is survived by nieces,Jenny Cook, Teresa Freeman, Patricia Gaskins, Donna Spain, Debbie Capps, Reba Lark, and Susan Richardson; nephews, Tommy Frazier, Clay Frazier, Larry Clayton, Randy Clayton, Wayne Clayton, David Clayton, Lavern Dement, Ross Jones, and Morton Jones. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters, Evelyn Clayton, Elsie C. Dement, Ruth C Lloyd, Rebecca C. Frazier; brothers Edison Clayton, Bobby Clayton, Harold Clayton, Ted Clayton, Roger Clayton, and Lawrence “Cotton” Clayton; a niece, Betty Wood; and nephews, Elbert Dement, Jr., Weldon Lloyd, Steve Clayton, Gregory Clayton, and Michael Clayton. The family would like to extend a special thank you to his dedicated caregivers Deborah Owens, Candy Bullock, Pattie Burwell, Bernice Foster, and Anna Williams. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, PO Box 75, Henderson, NC, 27536 or Community Partners of Hope, PO Box 1791, Henderson, NC 27536.