John Henry Clay, Jr.

John Henry Clay, Jr., 84, passed away on April 30, 2024 in Gainesville, FL. He was born on April 29, 1940, in Indianapolis, IN, to the late John Henry Clay, Sr. and Leonard Elizabeth Clay.

John graduated from Crispus Attucks High School, class of 1959. He attended San Diego City College in California and Indiana Purdue University in Indianapolis. John retired from the United States Navy after serving 23 years. While in the Navy, he served two tours in Vietnam on aircraft carriers - the USS Independence and USS Eisenhower - and two tours of recruiting duty in Indianapolis. He served as an instructor at NAS JAX “A” School. He worked several years before retiring as a Postal Carrier.

John was saved at age 9, at First Baptist Church in his hometown of Indianapolis and sang in the choir. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL, and served as an usher and Keeper of the Door - greeter. John held the position of Deputy at the voting polls and served on the Board of Directors at Palatka Retirement Villas.

John loved to travel, cruising with Carnival and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. He enjoyed visiting Cuba and sailing aboard Holland American Cruise Line, enjoying 18 nights sailing from Ft. Lauderdale to Copenhagen, Denmark. John and his wife cruised all over the Caribbean Islands, Cuba, Mexico and Alaska. They flew to Ireland with friends for a wonderful nine-day trip. John enjoyed driving across the United States on Interstate 10 (I-10) from Florida to California, visiting relatives and friends. They traveled to Las Vegas once a year. Both enjoyed visiting the great Salt Lake, Grand Tetons, Grand Canyon and Red Rock Canyon. They drove to Indiana, stopping at the Ark Encounter, ate BBQ in Memphis and Nashville, and traveled with church friends to Washington, D.C.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, James Clay.

John is survived by his devoted and loving wife, Wilhelmina H. Clay; children, Apryl E. Brown, Johnnye M. Staton, John W. Clay and Ashley D. Clay Dominguez (Jaime); grandchildren, LeKenrick Williams, Deontic Staton, Stazon Staton, Brianna Brown, Laylah B. Clay and Janaye A. Clay; great-grandchildren, Kaliana Williams and Oakland Williams; sisters, Joyce Foreman and Mary Brown, both from Indianapolis; a host of nephews, nieces, other family members and loving high school, Navy and church friends.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and a funeral service on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 11:00 a.m., both at Aaron and Burney Bivens Funeral Home, 529 Kingsley Avenue, Orange Park, FL 32073, 904-264-1233.  

 Interment with Military Honors will be held Thursday, May 9, 2024  at 1:30 p.m., Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lannie Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32218.

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