Clay Funeral Home

Our Story

Pictured from left to right:

J.O. Clay (1907 - 1957), Florence Kathryn Clay (1924 - 1998), Jessie A. Jones (1933 - 1984)

Welcome to Clay Funeral Home, Inc. Clay Funeral Home was founded in 1942 by J.O. Clay (1907-1957) in Forrest City, Arkansas. He was a licensed embalmer and licensed funeral director who graduated from the Kentucky School of Embalming in Louisville, Kentucky. Mr. Clay was dedicated to helping others and preserving funeral customs and traditions that have comforted generations of families. The initial Clay Funeral Home was located on Broadway and later moved to Cox Street in Forrest City, AR.

J.O.’s wife, Florence Kathryn Clay (1924-1998) was a licensed funeral director. She managed the business while he attended to matters outside the funeral home. Mrs. Clay’s brother, Jessie A. Jones (1933-1984) was a licensed embalmer and funeral director who graduated from the Kentucky School of Embalming in Louisville, Kentucky. He later joined with them and became an intricate part of the business.

In the early 1960’s, Mrs. Clay built a new funeral home at 116 North water street in Forrest City, she donated the old location for a worthy cause; she was adamant about blacks having civil rights. The old funeral home became the headquarters and lodging facility for the civil rights workers (SNCC), who came here from other states to organize blacks for the protest against Jim Crow. They fought for voting privileges, equal education, and also fought against other discriminatory laws to help create a community and country true to its ideals of equality and justice.

The successors of the first generation of this family owned and operated business is the second, third, and fourth generations; they are daughter, Effie Y. Clay who is a licensed embalmer and funeral director in the states of Arkansas and Mississippi, she graduated from John A. Gupton College in Nashville, TN, grandson, Quinton White, licensed funeral director and great granddaughter, Mercury Clay, apprentice funeral director.

In June, 2014 Clay Funeral Home moved to their new location, 2522 East Broadway in Forrest City, Arkansas

Over the years the faces may have changed, but the objective has remained the same; that is to help those we serve by providing personal service and value, with dignity and respect. We feel that the most important aspect of a loved one’s service is to go above and beyond the family’s expectations. Providing a family peace of mind and a beautiful memory picture is priceless.

We specialize in preparation, restoration, and presentation. For over 30 years Clay Funeral Home has been a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, the largest funeral service organization in the world. Through our membership we have access to the best continuing education in the business. We have expanded our horizons and built our business through NFDA's unparalleled opportunities for learning. They have the widest selection of CE and professional development options in funeral service.  We have credentials from them to show how dedicated we are to the families we serve.

Thank you for your visit.

Our Logo

    The Dove is a symbol of Christ, The Holy Spirit, peace, hope, and love. The single dove in flight in our logo symbolizes peace to the departing soul, and hope for the beginning of eternal life. The biblical verse most appropriate for our emblematic design is Psalms 55:6 “And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest.”

Effie Y. Clay CFSP CPC, Chief Executive Officier, Licensed Embalmer & Licensed Funeral Director Effie is the second generation of this family owned and operated business. She is responsible for all facets of the funeral home's operations. As the embalmer, Effie specializes  in body preparation, restoration, and presentation. She takes great interest in massive trauma and other difficult cases, and is known in the community and surrounding areas for her embalming skills and professionalism.

Quinton White, Vice President of Operations, Licensed Funeral Director Quinton is a 2006 graduate from Arkansas State University, where he majored in Business with emphasis in Marketing Logistics. That same year, he was awarded the ASU Marketing Logistics Department Award. He was born and raised in Forrest City, AR, and is a 2002 top ten percent graduate of Forrest City High School. Quinton represents the third generation of the family business and has several successful business ventures of his own. When asked about his plans for the future he responded, “It was instilled in me at an early age to be the best I could be and to always put God first. Therefore, my future is to continue to be an ethical business man and to let the Lord lead the way. I owe Him the praise and glory for my success.”

James White, Jr. , Licensed Funeral Director

Rev.Tommy Wiley, Chaplain & Funeral Attendant

Tommy Neal, Funeral Attendant