Elmer Ray Clayton was born July 8, 1931 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and taken to meet his Savior Jesus Christ, on June 25, 2025. He considered it the highest honor to be a part of the family of God and to have contributed to the advancement of His kingdom. After serving in Zoar Baptist Church and First Baptist Church, Denham Springs, he helped found New Covenant Church now Grace Covenant, using his skills as an accountant in service. He cherished the deep friendships developed in the Legacy Bible class taught by Dr. Ed Walker and others. He graduated from Central high School in 1950 and Southeastern university in 1959, after his discharge from the U.S. Navy and retired from the Baton Rouge Water Co. as Accounting manager in 1998. Retirement gave him time for gardening, domestic and international travel, and following LSU sports, especially men’s basketball. He visited all the contiguous states in his Airstream trailer
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Dolores Mitchell Clayton, daughter Cynthia Clayton Branton (David), grandson Andrew Branton (Bekah), granddaughter Rebecca Blanchard (Chris), great grandchildren Ryleigh, Klay, Adysen, and Korbin Branton, stepdaughter Kathryn Phillips McKenney (Dan) and step grandchildren Kate Aquino (Rafael) and Dylan McKenney. Preceded in death by parents John Randolph Clayton and Georgiana McCulloch Clayton, sisters Bernice, Audrey Mae, Pansy and Joyce and brothers Ed, Frank, Emmerson, and Velford (Nook).
Visitation will be at First Baptist Church Denham Springs on Monday June 30, 2025 from 9 – 11 with memorial service at 11. Military burial will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park, Denham Springs.
The family is grateful for all expressions of love and kindness. They have requested that any memorial gifts be designated to Grace Covenant Church renovation fund.
2 comments
Diane Tyler
June 28, 2025 at 8:37 pm
Ray and Dolores befriended Paul and me when we moved back to Denham Springs in 1977, and they quickly became our dearest friends. That friendship has continued even though we moved to North Carolina in 2010. We have shared our love for the Lord, LSU sports (mainly Tiger basketball), international and domestic travel, and flowers. Our children have always considered Ray and Dolores family. I remember the Sunday nights we met in our home to pray for our children another concerns. I will miss my friend, but I know that he and Paul are together with Jesus.
Paulette Ferguson
June 28, 2025 at 2:47 pm
Ray and I became acquainted when I was a teenager and reconnected many years later at New Covenant Church. I was so saddened when I learned of Ray’s passing but know that his time here was just preparation for eternity with our heavenly Father. Many times when I visited with him and Delores our conversation would be centered on spiritual matters and our growth in Christ. Other times, Ray and I would discuss our mutual interest in art. He was a wonderful watercolorist, and I loved sharing that interest with him. I will miss him and those conversations.