Allene Sears Clayton

DURHAM- Allene Sears Clayton passed away peacefully  with her family by her side at Brandermill Woods Healthcare Center on May 1, 2014. She was born in Bexar, Arkansas to the late Pledger and Ellen Sears on August 29, 1919. Allene was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph E. Clayton; son, E. Lynn Clayton; sister, Latain Gilstrap; brothers, Haskell and Carroll Sears; sister-in-law, Vestal and Jimmie Sears; and brothers-in-law Harry Gilstrap, William Bales, Cecil Smith and Gaylon Perryman.

She is survived by  two sons, Ken Clayton (Gail) of Chesterfield,  VA; and Jerry Clayton (Patricia) of Durham; daughter-in-law, Maria Clayton of Gainesville, TX; six grandchildren, Bruce Clayton (Nicole) of Durham; Kristen Clayton of Greensboro; Ashley Clayton of Richmond, VA; Brent Clayton of St. Paul, MN; Alison Clayton of Chicago, IL; and Brandon Clayton of Chesterfield, VA; two great-grandchildren, Bruce and Spaulding Clayton of Durham; four sisters, Velta Bales of Greenwood, MO; Lena Smith of Raytown MO; Vonda Sanders (Carmon) of Bexar AR; and Georgia Perryman of  Viola, AR. Allene spent most of her married life in Greensboro before moving to Durham, and then to Chesterfield, VA. She was a devoted wife and mother and her dedication to her faith was always evident in the way she lived her life. Fondly known as Nanny after the birth of her first grandchild, she was never too busy to attend sporting events with her sons, help her husband in the family business, or read stories and bake cookies for the grandchildren. Allene shared her talent and love of music throughout  her life. It began with singing around the piano with family and friends and evolved to church choir, then a senior citizens quartet, and finally  around the piano and in the halls of Brandermill Woods Healthcare Center. The family would like to thank the staff of Brandermill Woods for the loving care they have  given  “our dear Nana” over the past seven years.

Funeral  services will be held on Monday at 11:00 a.m. at Red Mountain Baptist Church, 1322 Red Mountain Rd.  in  Rougemont. Pastor Doug Brown and Rev. David Pryor will officiate. Burial will be in church cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Bruce Clayton, Brandon Clayton, Brent Clayton, Barry Andrews, Brian Porter and Carlo Finazzo.

The family will receive friends on Sunday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Hudson Funeral Home, 211 S. Miami Blvd., Durham, NC, 27703. Flowers are acceptable or memorial contributions may be made to the Resident Employee Appreciation Fund, c/o Brandermill Woods Healthcare Center, 2100 Brandermill Parkway, Midlothian, VA 23112 or a charity of your choice.