Clifford E. Clayton, Jr., "Joe," a devoted husband and loving father, passed from this life to meet his Savior at the University of MS Medical Center Intensive Care Unit on Monday, November 4, 2024. The staff and physicians provided palliative comfort care, and he passed surrounded by his family.

Joe was born to Clifford and Mazola Clayton on September 9, 1944, in Knoxville, TN. He graduated from Karns High School in the Solway community of Knoxville, TN, in 1963. He participated in and lettered in several sports, excelling in football, in which he was captain and most valuable player many times. He explained that he generally played football by being positioned in offense and defense.

Joe also excelled in leadership roles in student government by being elected class president several times during his tenure at high school. He valued his friendship with his peers at school by practicing his motto of "No cliques allowed" attitude with his classmates. He especially loved that the girls would sneak him out at night to ride around the countryside, like in the song "Seven Ladies in the Back Seat Hugging and Kissing with Fred."

After graduation, he enrolled in the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT. At the academy, he experienced a rude awakening of strict rules and discipline, which facilitated the man he became. He played football under the direction of the famous Otto Graham. He graduated in the heat of the Vietnam War in 1966. He was commissioned as a lieutenant deck officer in the war and commanded 82 and 92-foot patrol boats. He valued the instinct instilled in him at the academy and used it effectively in executing command orders.  He was known to question any commands received that possibly endangered any civilian life in the area.

After separation from the Coast Guard, he developed and taught radar school, training river pilots in the skill.  There, he began an interest in pursuing his pilot license. He was mentored and selected to be a pilot in the New Orleans-Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Association ("NOBRA"). He worked in the arena for 32 years and 17 years as President of the Board of Directors for NOBRA. During his tenure as president, he facilitated leaps and bounds for the pilots in NOBRA and the maritime industry by setting standards of practice that are in use today. Joe received political appointments from Governor Edwin Edwards by being the first riverboat pilot appointed as a Member of the Board of Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans and a maritime advisor to the governor.

Joe was a loving husband and father to three daughters: Casey, Camie, and Ava. To him, a woman could pursue and succeed in any profession they aspired to with the equivalent emotional and monetary support. Casey is currently a riverboat pilot with NOBRA. She was the first female pilot on the Mississippi River, and the first woman appointed President of the Board of Examiners for NOBRA. She has set the groundwork for future women to pursue the piloting profession.

Ava is a 4th-year medical student at UMMC in Jackson and will graduate in the class of 2025. He did not achieve his goal of seeing her receive her doctorate in 2025, but I know he will be smiling in heaven then.

Within the life cycle, God freed him of his pain and helplessness and called him home early Monday morning.  Our family would like to thank all family members and friends for helping Joe through this stage of life. I especially want to acknowledge Mrs. Sheila Anderson of Jackson, MS, who assisted me with hands-on care at home for Joe. Without her, caring for him at home would have been extremely difficult. I would also like to personally thank our son-in-law, Laurence Mixson, for providing us with a home close to the medical center for his care.

Survivors  are his wife, Joy Smith Clayton and his children including their spouses: Casey (Steve Rowbatham), Ava Elise (Laurence Mixson), and Joe's granddaughter, Harmony. Joe also had two adopted sons he cared for and loved, William "Billy" Schick and Mark Hodges. I know there are many more he nurtured over the years. Joe was preceded in death by his parents (Mazola and Clifford Clayton) and his daughter (Camie Clayton).

Visitation will be from 1 pm to 3 pm on Friday, November 8, 2024, with service at 3 pm at Hartman Jones Funeral Home. Reverend Randy Achord will officiate. Ms. Brynn Corbello of Jackson, MS., will provide music. The services for Joe will conclude with a reception at the Mallard in Dixie Springs.