Mike Clayton, 55, of Ocilla, died Thursday, July 5, 2012 at his residence.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 P.M., Sunday, July 8, 2012 at Satilla Baptist Church in Irwin County with Rev. William Pope officiating. Interment will follow in the Ocilla Cemetery. The family will receive friends 7-9 Saturday evening at the funeral home in Ocilla.
Mr. Clayton was born February 26, 1957 in Ocilla to Dora Ann Little Clayton and the late Thomas Clayton. He was a 1975 graduate of Irwin County High School, an alumnus of Valdosta State College and a 1980 graduate of The University of Georgia. He succeeded in many professional endeavors including: retiring as County Executive Director of the Telfair & Wheeler USDA Farm Service Agency, was former owner/operator of Red Barn Feed, and was a former sales representative for Monsanto Chemical Company. Mr. Clayton was a farmer and operator of a custom pecan shaking business. Some of his outstanding accomplishments include: brother in the Kappa Alpha Order, member of the Irwin County Board of Tax Equalization Committee, co-author of Ag Chemical Association of Georgia By-laws, former Irwin County Republican Party Chairman, member of the Georgia Cattleman’s Association, and being a spokesman for Southeast State Peanut Program, a peanut lobbying group in Washington, D.C. Mike was always active in his local community having been a member of the McRae Lions Club and a member of Osceola Lodge F.&A.M. He was the play-by-play and color commentator for Irwin County High School Football, an advertising campaign organizer and radio ad producer, and probably most–well known for his gift of gab.
Mr. Clayton is survived by his wife of 32 years: Kaye Dorsey Clayton of Ocilla; sons and daughters-in-law: Michael Tyler (Kat) Clayton of Valdosta and Damon (Abby) Clayton of Ocilla; daughter: Claire Clayton of Ocilla; his mother: Dora Ann Clayton of Ocilla; sister and brother-in-law: Lydia (Leo) Roberts of Fitzgerald, and brother-in-law: Larry (Cheryl) Dorsey of Oglethorpe; sister-in-law: Linda Monk of Charlotte, North Carolina; as well as several nieces and nephews. His was preceded in death by his father: Thomas Clayton; his grandparents: Malcolm Dexter Clayton, M.D. and Lola Swann Clayton, Damon P. Little and Mattie Adams Little, and a sister: Louise C. Braziel.