Leonard F. Clayton
July 4, 1929 ~ January 10, 2011
Resided in:
Hendersonville, NC
LEONARD F. CLAYTON
HENDERSONVILLE – In loving memory of Leonard F. Clayton, 81, of Hendersonville, formerly of Asheville, who went to be with the Lord on January 10, 2011.
He was born on July 4, 1929, in Asheville to Vernon and Flossie Clayton.
He was a 1947 graduate of Swannanoa High School. He attended UCLA School of Banking, and was employed at First Citizens Bank for 42 years, retiring as Regional Vice-president and CEO of the Asheville District.
Beginning his music career he sang with the Tone Masters Quartet, later donating 15 years of his adult life as adult choir director at Oteen Baptist and Beverly Hills Baptist Churches.
Leonard was a former board member and was given an Honorary Lifetime Membership with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. He was a board member of the Asheville Better Business Bureau.
Leonard was selected as a Trustee for the Baptist Retirement Home of N.C. He also was Chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board for two separate building campaigns.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Betty; daughter Gaye Kerr and her husband, Jay Kerr of Sunset Beach, NC; one grandson, Reid of Seattle Washington.
He was from a loving family of brothers and sisters. He was predeceased by two brothers, Earl and Robert, one sister, Fay Cadwallader, and survived by two brothers, Art and wife Jewel of Greensboro, NC, and Vernon of Asheville, sisters Frances Shelton of Asheville and Ruth Carter and husband Ray of Hendersonville; and by many nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m. Thursday at Beverly Hills Baptist Church with the Revs. Dr. Buddy Corbin and Billy King officiating. Burial will be at First Presbyterian Church-Warren Wilson College Rd., Swannanoa.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.
Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army, 204 Haywood St., Asheville, NC 28801, or to one’s favorite charity.
Groce Funeral Home on Tunnel Road, East Asheville, is assisting the family.
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Gaye and Family: I am very sorry for the loss of your Dad. I know how you feel having lost my Dad two years ago. Just know that he is in Heaven now and he is GOOD!!
Love you Cindy
Dear Vernon And the Clayton Family You are embrassed tenderly in our
thoughts and prayers during this time as we ponder —even through the sorrow the eternal glory that has dawned for your precous loved one.God Bless Paul & Wanda Mount
His sweet smile and love and service for our Lord will remain as a precious memory for all of us. To know and associate with him was a blessing. Jean Morgan
The family is in our thoughts and prayers. We will miss our friend.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Leonard was such a joy to be around. He was always smiling. He often told me that he loved to hear OneVoice sing. We are going to miss seeing him in the congregation. May God keep you in his care and give you peace and comfort during the days ahead.
Sandi and Lori Plemmons
I’ve known Mr. Clayton for over 25 years. He hired me for my first position at First Citizens Bank. He taught me the importance of treating people with respect and kindness. He was a very humble, caring,honest and loving person. He would always listen to and help anyone with a problem.
We own our business now and we use all the skills he taught me about customer care and treating people kindly. Mr. Clayton will be missed by us and all of our staff at Apollo Flame.
Betty & Family: Please accept my deepest condolences on the passing of a beloved husband and father. Leonard was a true mentor to me during our time together at First Citizens Bank and more recently a dear friend. I will miss Leonard and will keep the family in my thoughts and prayers.
I knew Leonard for many years of my banking career in Asheville. He was highly respected in the banking business and had many friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. My prayers and sympathy to his family. Cecil Tallent, Wachovia VP, Retired
Gaye & Jay,
My thoughts and prayers are with you always.
love,
debbie
Betty and Gaye,
You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Betty and Gaye,
I am so saddened to hear of Leonard’s passing. I will always remember how much fun it was to watch him and the crew make wine at my dad’s barn. He will surely be missed by all. Take care and God bless you both.
B. C……….What memories have been stirred since my Sister Phyllis Clevenger phoned me about Leonard’s passing away. My heart hurts for you for I do know the ache and hole that is left in your heart when the ‘other half of our life’ goes on before us. WHAT A BLESSING that the two of you had 61 years together and a daughter and her family whom I know you loved so much too. I remember when Gaye became a part of your family, the joy and love that was poured out. I see she is living at Sunset Beach, not that far from Southport, which makes me think we may be able to meet some day; perhaps if you come to visit them. B.C., one of the titles you now have as ‘widow’ is not one we would ever have chosen; the grief unlike any other which our loved ones and Our Lord, our Comforter, will see us through. Your Church family, I know, will be there with loving arms with the love of our Lord Jesus; giving back the loving ways you and Leonard served with fervor and delight. I would love to be close by to be part of that support and comfort for I do know how much it means. Conley passed away April 2, 2005 (had he lived two more weeks, we would have had 51 yrs together; thankful for every year of it). My heart and my arms reach out to you, and be assured I will interceed for you every day as you walk through this valley, the Good Shepherd carrying you in HIs arms each day. God Bless and hold you in His Love —- ‘J.K.’ (This does go back a long way since B.C. and J.K. were a part of Social Security and we were oh so young!) When you are ready and the timing is right for you, perhaps we can e-mail or phone and chat in the months to come. Meantime, I send you and your family my love and prayers.
Dear Betty and Gaye,
I was sad to hear of Leonard’s passing. Please know my thoughts, prayers, and love, are with you and your family during this difficult time. I will always have fond memories of younger days together at Beverly Hills Baptist.
Dear Family of Leonard,
We were so sorry to hear of Leonard’s death. We knew Leonard when he was a young man singing with his brother Earl (and I don’t remember who else was in the group) befoe he sang with the Tonemasters. Our family sang at many of the conventions that his group also attended. We were the Roberts Family. (Dad was A Fulton Roberts of Asheville Cleaners). We remember Leonard as a fine person
as well as his brother Earl, whom my younger sister, Marie, and I baby-sat for when he and Shirley lived in Beverly Hills. We send
our sympathy to the family and
know how much you will miss him.
Susie & Bob Ray
Dear Family of Leonard,
We were so sorry to hear of Leonard’s death. We knew Leonard when he was a young man singing with his brother Earl (and I don’t remember who else was in the group) befoe he sang with the Tonemasters. Our family sang at many of the conventions that his group also attended. We were the Roberts Family. (Dad was A Fulton Roberts of Asheville Cleaners). We remember Leonard as a fine person
as well as his brother Earl, whom my younger sister, Marie, and I baby-sat for when he and Shirley lived in Beverly Hills. We send
our sympathy to the family and
know how much you will miss him.
Susie & Bob Ray
To Mr.Clayton’s Family: My first job after graduating at Mars Hill College in 1959 was at Carolina Industrial Bank in Asheville. I was privileged to work with Mr. Clayton. He was a person I greatly admired. His kindness and professional work ethics were something I have remembered over the years. May God’s wonderful grace be with you at this time in your life.
Dear Betty,
I don’t know if you remember us but Dave, Jenny, Jill and I shared many a Sunday morning with you and Clayton at the donut shop on Tunnel Road. The girls are grown and married, but I have fond memories of those happy Sunday mornings. You are in our prayers.
Dear Betty, My prayers and thoughts are with your family during this time of your life. I was also employed at First Citizens and have many memories of Leonard. May God hold you in His loving arms to confort you.
Dear Clayton Family, May God bless all of you during this time of loss.
Your whole family was such a great blessing as you ministered in various ways at Oteen Baptist Church during the 50’s, when I was attending there.
When I think back to those years, I remember the music first and foremost. Leonard was the choir director and we, as a church family, were blessed to sing beautiful songs together, under his leadership.
I speak for all the children of David and Elsie Fox: Leonard was a special person who will not be forgotten. May God give you peace and comfort beyond all understanding.
Phyllis Fox Briggs
So sorry for your great loss. I would love to get in touch with Ruth if possible. Thank you so much, and once again so sorry for the great loss in your family.