William Jeffrey Clay

William Jeffrey Clay, 65, affectionately known as Butch and Bill, passed away on May 29, 2025, following an illness. William was a devoted husband, father, brother and uncle. He is preceded in death by his parents William and Evelyn Clay, his brother Jeffrey Clay and sisters Dale Clay, Gwendolyn Gambling and Elaine Richardson.

Born on April 30, 1960, in The Bronx, New York, William had a passion for traveling and exploring different countries. One of his favorite activities was sitting by the beach, listening to the soothing sounds of the ocean. During the last 12 years of his life, he cherished his time and travels with his wife, Alverina.

In his early years, William was a member of Morningstar Baptist Church in Queens, New York where he grew up loving gospel music. He was a member of the Heavenly Tone Gospel Singers alongside his siblings. After completing high school, he enlisted in the United States Army as a Maintenance Mechanic serving for nine years, receiving an honorable discharge. Later, he joined Beau Dietl & Associates and worked as a private investigator in New York. After relocating to Raleigh, North Carolina in 2004, he began his employment at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina in 2007 as an engineer specializing in area maintenance. He concluded a successful tenure of 14 years in this role.

William truly loved the Lord. He joined Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church in 2011 then later joined Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in 2018. He had the heart of giving to others. William will always be remembered for his compassion, support and humor. Through his illness, he was in good spirits and continued to trust in Gods sovereignty. He remained faithful and focused on God for his strength and peace.

William leaves a legacy of love to a devoted and dedicated wife Alverina Clay; daughters, Charmaine Clay of Brooklyn, New York and Jalyn Hall of Raleigh, North Carolina and son Tahj Hall of Fayetteville, North Carolina; grandchildren Donte, Mya and Nova; siblings Minister Deborah Clay of Brooklyn, New York, Evangelist Desiree Clay of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Sidney Clay (Zhanna) of Burlington, NJ; several nieces and nephews; and a host of relatives and friends.