Obituaries
Obituary for Willie Lay
Willie Lee Lay, 80, of Memphis, TN, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend passed away peacefully before sunrise on February 1, 2017.
Though born in Tutwiler, MS, Willie’s family soon moved to Memphis, TN. There he attended public schools and was a proud member of the Douglass High School Marching Band. After graduating from Douglass High in 1955, Willie joined the United States Navy where he served his country faithfully for over three years. He often said, “I joined the Navy so that I could see the world, but I only got as far as California!” After an honorable discharge from the military service assignment, Willie met the love of his life, Norry Richard. He went on to work at the Quaker Oats Company for several years until he and wife, Norry moved to Long Island, New York in the 1970’s. There Willie was employed by Landesman Brothers, Inc. as a Manager, until he retired in 2001 and began part-time work at Home Depot. It was during this time that the onset of his illness began in 2012.
Willie accepted Christ at an early age. He was a long-time member of Bethel AME Church in Freeport, NY, where he served faithfully as a Trustee and loved his church family. Those closest to him knew him as “Apple”. He enjoyed listening to classic gospel, jazz, blues and soul music; and he loved spending time with his family and many, many friends in New York and
Memphis.
Willie Lee Lay is survived by his wife, Norry Lay, Memphis, TN; his children, Janice (Terry) Jones, Memphis, TN, Reginald Richard, Memphis, TN, Carla (Michael) Housley, Houston, TX, and Monia Mims, Hopewell, VA; his daughter-in-law, Calvaretta Smith, Cordova, TN; his grandchildren, Derrick (Karen) Jones, Terry (Erica) Jones, Jr., Cherese Kelly, Reginald Richard, Jr.,
Brandon Richard, Kyle Richard, Dantrayl (Dimitra) Smith, Calvin Smith, Dornie’ (Charles) Williams, Jermaine Boyd, Sandy Housley, Michele Housley, Melyssa Housley, Terry Lee Richard, and Jerald Mims Jr.; 24 great-grandchildren; and Goddaughters, Nicole Coleman and Brittany Hill.
Willie is also survived by his sisters, Bessie Combs, Chicago, IL, Katie Wilson, Memphis, TN, Lucille Blades, Anchorage, AK, Eula Duncan, Chicago, IL, Ludia Swann, South Bend, IN, Gail Wilson, Shrewsbury, MA, Gwendolyn (Calvin) Laws, South Bend, IN, and Tina Moten, Memphis, TN; his brothers, Jerry (Martha) Moten, Memphis, TN, Kenneth (Brenda) Moten,
Memphis, TN, Norland (Alice) Moten, Wilmington, NC, Jeffery Moten, Memphis, TN, Theodore (Michelle) Moten, Memphis, TN; and a host of other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Henry Lay and Claudia Brooks Lay; a daughter, Cherese Lynette Moten Lay; son, Danny Smith; and sisters, Linetta Johnson, Essie Carpenter, Bettie Duncan, and Carla Moten.
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Though born in Tutwiler, MS, Willie’s family soon moved to Memphis, TN. There he attended public schools and was a proud member of the Douglass High School Marching Band. After graduating from Douglass High in 1955, Willie joined the United States Navy where he served his country faithfully for over three years. He often said, “I joined the Navy so that I could see the world, but I only got as far as California!” After an honorable discharge from the military service assignment, Willie met the love of his life, Norry Richard. He went on to work at the Quaker Oats Company for several years until he and wife, Norry moved to Long Island, New York in the 1970’s. There Willie was employed by Landesman Brothers, Inc. as a Manager, until he retired in 2001 and began part-time work at Home Depot. It was during this time that the onset of his illness began in 2012.
Willie accepted Christ at an early age. He was a long-time member of Bethel AME Church in Freeport, NY, where he served faithfully as a Trustee and loved his church family. Those closest to him knew him as “Apple”. He enjoyed listening to classic gospel, jazz, blues and soul music; and he loved spending time with his family and many, many friends in New York and
Memphis.
Willie Lee Lay is survived by his wife, Norry Lay, Memphis, TN; his children, Janice (Terry) Jones, Memphis, TN, Reginald Richard, Memphis, TN, Carla (Michael) Housley, Houston, TX, and Monia Mims, Hopewell, VA; his daughter-in-law, Calvaretta Smith, Cordova, TN; his grandchildren, Derrick (Karen) Jones, Terry (Erica) Jones, Jr., Cherese Kelly, Reginald Richard, Jr.,
Brandon Richard, Kyle Richard, Dantrayl (Dimitra) Smith, Calvin Smith, Dornie’ (Charles) Williams, Jermaine Boyd, Sandy Housley, Michele Housley, Melyssa Housley, Terry Lee Richard, and Jerald Mims Jr.; 24 great-grandchildren; and Goddaughters, Nicole Coleman and Brittany Hill.
Willie is also survived by his sisters, Bessie Combs, Chicago, IL, Katie Wilson, Memphis, TN, Lucille Blades, Anchorage, AK, Eula Duncan, Chicago, IL, Ludia Swann, South Bend, IN, Gail Wilson, Shrewsbury, MA, Gwendolyn (Calvin) Laws, South Bend, IN, and Tina Moten, Memphis, TN; his brothers, Jerry (Martha) Moten, Memphis, TN, Kenneth (Brenda) Moten,
Memphis, TN, Norland (Alice) Moten, Wilmington, NC, Jeffery Moten, Memphis, TN, Theodore (Michelle) Moten, Memphis, TN; and a host of other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Henry Lay and Claudia Brooks Lay; a daughter, Cherese Lynette Moten Lay; son, Danny Smith; and sisters, Linetta Johnson, Essie Carpenter, Bettie Duncan, and Carla Moten.
Previous Events
Visitation
Friday
10
Feb
9:00 AM
- 11:00 AM
New Tyler AME Church
3300 Summer Ave.
Memphis, TN 38122
Service
Friday
10
Feb
11:00 AM
New Tyler AME Church
3300 Summer Ave.
Memphis, TN 38122
Cemetery Details
Location
West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery
4000 Forest Hill Irene Road
Memphis, TN 38125
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