Sue Clay Williams

1924-2020

Loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and treasured friend, Sue Clay Hughey Williams died on July 10, 2020, 3 weeks short of her 96th birthday. She was born on August 1, 1924 in Osceola, Arkansas to Mary Clay Lovewell Hughey and Hugh Henry Hughey. Her family moved to Baytown in 1939. Sue Clay attended Robert E. Lee High School from which she graduated in 1942 as salutatorian. She was Drum Major of the Lee Brigadiers, editor of the school paper, the Lee Hi-Lites, and a Class Favorite.

After graduation Sue Clay enrolled at the University of Arkansas where she was a member of Chi Omega Sorority and remained an active Chi Omega supporter and sustainer throughout her life. Early in her freshman year she became reacquainted with a childhood friend from Osceola, John Lan Williams. They soon fell in love. On the night of June 16, 1943 while visiting her grandmother in Osceola, Sue Clay and Lan eloped to the home of the Baptist minister and told him they wanted to get married. Thus began a wonderful marriage which lasted more than 70 years.

Sue Clay and Lan began married life in Jonesboro, Arkansas where Lan was in the family banking business and where their son, Lan and daughter, Suzanne were born. In 1954, they moved to Baytown and Frank was born. Sue Clay was the mainstay of the family and quietly and seemingly effortlessly kept everything running smoothly. She was a tireless homemaker, a talented seamstress, and a gourmet cook, a Southern lady who always conducted herself with grace.

A lifelong Episcopalian, Sue Clay was a faithful and active member of Trinity Episcopal Church where she served on the Altar Guild, sang in the choir, and was a member of St. Cecilia’s Guild. She was a past president of the Service League of Baytown and a Life Member of the organization. She was a member and past president of the Ladies Association of Goose Creek Country Club where she and her husband were charter members. She was a member of Thursday Forum, the local chapter of PEO, and a former member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

In 1976 Sue Clay joined The Travel Post travel agency when her son started that business in Baytown. She was an accomplished travel agent and in her later years, while out to dinner or shopping, former clients would frequently greet her and remind her of the special vacation or honeymoon she had planned for them. She organized and led many group tours to foreign destinations around the world. A particular highlight of her 25 year career was a joint invitation in 1981 from the Chinese Tourist Authority and the Southwest Chapter of the American Society of Travel Agents to visit China which had been closed to the outside world since 1949. This was only 3 years after China had been opened and few from the outside world had yet entered the realms of this once-forbidden land.

Sue Clay is preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her son, James Franklin Williams; her beloved aunt, Margaret Lovewell Felton and cousin, Suzanne Felton Willson. She is survived by son, John Lan Williams, Jr; daughter, Suzanne Williams Cantrell and husband, C. Dell Cantrell; granddaughters, Laura Katherine Cantrell and Mary Clay Cantrell Gebauer and husband, Chase J. Gebauer; great- grandsons Benjamin Chase Gebauer and Reid William Gebauer whom she cherished and adored. Also surviving Sue Clay are brother-in-law, Ed Williams and wife, Bobbye; nieces, Delia Saliba, Diane Wynn, Christen Arnold and nephew, Cliff Williams.

The family is grateful to Mabell Salazar who provided loving care and devotion to both Lan and Sue Clay for over seven years and also to Sandy Hodges, Sharon Beuhler and Callista Simon whose care allowed Sue Clay to remain home these final months.

A private service for immediate family only will be at Trinity’s columbarium. Memorial service will take place later this year when we can gather safely. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church Building Fund, 5010 N. Main St., Baytown, TX 77521.