Ruby Lucille (Carnes) Clayton

Mrs. Ruby Lucille Carnes Clayton, affectionately known as “grandma” to her grandchildren and “granny” to her greatgrandchildren was born on January 14, 1922 in Brickyard, Alabama. She was the third oldest of nine children born to Willie and Mamie Wade Carnes.

Ruby’s father was the cook on a tugboat and his job took the family to Bainbridge, Georgia where Ruby attended Hutto Elementary until the third grade. The family then moved to Selma, Alabama where she matriculated from third to seventh grade. While there, she joined Brown Chapel AME church when she was eight years old.  

The family moved to Columbus, Georgia in 1936.  There she graduated from Spencer High School in 1940.  After high school, she worked a year to earn money to attend college. She enrolled at Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama and graduated in May, 1945 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Home Economics.

She moved to Sparta, Ga and began work as a Home Demonstration Agent. Here she met and married James Monroe Clayton in 1945. To this union was born their son, James M. Clayton, Jr. and their daughter, Jennis Rose Clayton Walls.  She joined her husband at Macedonia Baptist Church where her children were raised to be servants of God. She was a dutiful, faithful and devoted worker serving as a Deaconess. She remained active in her church until her health prevented her from doing so.

The family lived in Sparta, Georgia where she later became a school teacher in the Hancock County School system. She taught elementary education and later special education until she retired. During her teaching tenure, she expanded her knowledge and credentials at Fort Valley State College, Savannah State University, Temple University, Augusta College, and Georgia College State University.

Mrs. Clayton has received numerous awards over the years in the many capacities she has served. She served for many years as a Hancock County School Board member.  She is Past Grand Worthy Matron of the Prince Hall Grand Chapter Order of the Eastern Stars (OES), Jurisdiction of Georgia (1992-1997).  She is a member of The Daughter of Isis, Order of The Golden Circle and the Georgia Retired Teacher’s Association.

 She leaves to celebrate and honor her life: her son James Monroe Clayton, Jr. (Dollie) of Atlanta, Georgia and her daughter Jennis Rose Clayton Walls (Ulysses) of Durham, North Carolina.  To cherish her memory, she leaves four grandchildren LaVenettra Walls Reaves (Derrick) of Charlotte, North Carolina, Jamie Walls Steadman (Michael) of Columbia South Carolina, Ulysses Walls, III (Bahati) of Houston, Texas and Jamon William Clayton of Arlington, Texas. Mrs. Ruby has 5 great grandchildren:  Santeyanna, Darius, Jade, Laila, and Josephine. She leaves behind one brother Walter Carnes (“Buddy”) of Atlanta, Georgia and a host of nieces and nephews.

Ruby C. Clayton was full of life and was always "on the move".  She had a purse and jewelry for every occasion and always carried herself with grace, class, and style.  She believed that being active was the key to a full and abundant life and that God should always be her guide.

Mrs. Ruby will be deeply missed by her family, friends, church, her Masonic and Shriner brothers, as well as numerous OES, Daughters of Isis, and Golden Circle sisters. She leaves behind a legacy of Service and Love.

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Services entrusted to Dawson’s Mortuary ~98 Hopgood St. Warrenton, GA

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