Suzanne McRae Clay

Suzanne McRae Clay was taken to be with her Lord on 10-13-2023. She passed away at the age of 78. She was born April 28, 1945 in Jackson, Mississippi to Dorothy Ann Bell McRae and John McLeod McRae. She attended Boyd Elementary School, Bailey and Chastain Junior High Schools, then graduated from Murrah High in 1963, all in Jackson. She attended Belhaven University and graduated in 1965.

She married her high school sweetheart, William E. (Bill) Clay, Jr. and they made their home in the Jackson area for the 54 years preceding his death, where she continued to live. They were blessed with a wonderful family. She loved family gatherings and being involved in the lives of her children and grandchildren. Anyone she met would soon know how proud she was of each one of them. Being a wife, mother, mother-in-law and “Nana” were her joy. She cherished the special relationships with her close friends and enjoyed many fun activities with them over the years.

Suzanne loved the Lord, being involved in her church and fellowship with her church family. She led one of the ladies’ Bible studies for years, was a member of the Building Committee when the church expanded, and a member of the World Missions Committee. She served on the Board of Directors of Bethany Christian Services of Mississippi for 20 years and subsequently on the Board of Directors of Lifeline Children’s Services for a year.

In December 1965, she was employed at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where she rose through the ranks from a secretarial position to become Director of Business Operations in the Department of Medicine. In 2008, she retired from this position but continued to work in the same department assisting the Chairman with special projects, then totally retired in June 2018. She was proud to be part of the Medical Center and considered it a “home away from home” where she established life-long relationships and experienced numerous interesting opportunities. During her time at the Medical Center she served on a number of committees and was also on the Board of Directors of the Credit Union, now the Mississippi Federal Credit Union. She served as Treasurer, Vice President and President of the Credit Union Board and had the privilege of overseeing construction of the Credit Union’s current on-campus building when she was President.

In her earlier years she enjoyed horses and water skiing, then later, following Bill’s lead, pursued flying as a hobby and was an instrument rated pilot. She and Bill loved flying together and time they shared at their place at the beach.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Dorothy Ann McRae, and her husband of 54 years, Bill. She is survived by two sons, Mark (Dixie) and Bryan (Jamie) and five grandchildren, Reed, Will (Emily), Matthew (Allie), McRae and Kelsey, her great grandsons, Ridge and Rush, her dear cousin, Kathy Wilson, sister-in-law, Candace Loper (Shaughn), and many nieces and nephews.

Parkway Funeral Home is handling arrangements. A celebration of her life will be held at Highlands Presbyterian Church in Ridgeland at 11:00 am on October 16, 2023. Visitation will be prior to the service at the church from 9:30 to 11:00 am.

Memorials may be made to Highlands Presbyterian Church Building Fund or Foreign Missions Fund, French Camp Academy, Lifeline Children’s Services or Gateway Rescue Mission. Many thanks to the wonderful caregivers with Nikki Lewis’s company, Be Nice Personal Touch.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Clay family may be shared at www.parkwayfuneralhomeridgeland.com.