Clay Wilkes

CLAY WILKES Henry Clay Wilkes Jr. age 90, died Sunday, October 17, 2021 at Garden Hill Assisted Living in Columbus. Services will be held Thursday, October 21, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Memorial Gunter Peel Chapel (College Street) with Rev. Melvin Mordecai officiating. Burial will follow at Friendship Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday from 12:00 p.m. until service time at the funeral home. Mr. Wilkes was born on Saturday, March 07, 1931 in West, MS to the late Henry Clay Wilkes Sr. and Mary Belle Adcock. He was a 1st Sergeant in the U.S Army and served during the Korean Conflict. He was a former employee of Eka Nobel, retiring in 1992 after 38 years and 8 months as a chemical plant operator/supervisor. Mr. Wilkes was an avid golfer, fisherman, hunter, dog trainer and a natural athlete in his younger years. He enjoyed many years of squirrel and quail hunting with his best buddy, Ed Edmonson. Mr. Wilkes enthusiastically followed the Mississippi State Bulldogs, the Atlanta Braves and professional golf. Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by 2 sisters, Jeanette Wilkes Richey of Nashville,Tn. and Mary Ellis Wilkes Johnson of Albita Springs, La. Survivors include: His wife of 66 years Velma Sue Gore Wilkes, Columbus, MS Children: Steven Clay Wilkes (Paula), Caledonia, MS Cathy Wilkes Bailey, Columbus, MS Connie Wilkes Stein (Jason), Henderson, NV Sister: Margaret Wilkes, Gulfport, MS Brother in Law: Ronnie Johnson of Albita, La. Grandchildren: Bryan Clay Bailey, (Heather), Columbus, MS, Lauren Ann Wilkes, Birmingham, AL, Anna Cate Bailey Wright (John Ross), Columbus, MS, Stephanie Beth Wilkes, Atlanta, Ga, Great Grandchildren: Carter Ross Wright, Columbus, MS and a host of nieces & nephews. Serving as Pallbearers will be: Eddy Richey, Randy Edmonson, Jim Gore, John Gore, Donnie Brown, Doug Brown, Tim Upton, Cody Brown, Chaz Brown, Boomer Brown, Sanders Edmonson, Samuel Edmonson, Colby Upton, Cayden Upton, and Cale Upton Serving as Honorary Pallbearers will be: The noon golf group at Green Oaks Golf Club and former fellow employees of Hooker Chemical/Eka Nobel. The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Garden Hill Assisted Living, Baptist Hospice and Fred Richardson. Memorials may be made to: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 or the charity of your choice.