Henry Clay III was born on March 15, 1949, in Cleveland Ohio to Henry and Ida Clay. Both parents proceeded him in death. He attended Cleveland public schools.

He graduated from John F Kennedy High School in 1967. Henry was offered a full scholarship to Oberlin college but chose to stay close to home and continue his theocratic education. He also earned an associate of arts’ degree from Cuyahoga Community College in 1972.

His mother Ida was baptized as one of Jehovah’s witnesses in 1954 and studied the Bible with her children. Ida and her children would walk from their home to the Kingdom Hall, located on Wade Park, and later to other Kingdom Halls. Henry was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1967. He was active in the witnessing work and gave many public talks in the Theocratic Ministry School and had a share in other congregation assignments. He spent his last years in the Northfield Village Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation facility, where he made known his love for Jehovah.

He repeatedly voiced his deep-seated objection to receiving a blood transfusion.

Henry was employed by the Ohio Bell telephone company, and later retired from AT&T. After Retirement he worked for H&R Block where he taught tax preparation classes. He later opened his own tax preparation service. He was a very active person who loved jogging, walking, working out and the culinary arts. He was well known at the Scandinavian Health Spa. His claim to fame was walking from E.151 St. and Harvard to downtown Cleveland – but he had to take the bus back home.

He was the second oldest of five siblings. Although Henry never married and didn’t have any children, he was a loving and generous uncle to all his nieces and nephews. He loved family gatherings, especially the wedding anniversaries of parents and siblings.

Henry is survived by his sister, Yvonne (J.L.) Moore; and his brothers, Kenneth (Stephanie) Clay, Rodney (Leila) Clay, and Gary (Daphne) Clay; nieces, Connie Clay and Ashley (Joe) Olivo; his nephews, Christopher (Dakota) Clay and Brandon (Hallie) Clay; great-nieces, Kinsley Clay, Bristol Clay, and Oaklynn Clay; and great-nephews, Lincoln Clay and Atlas Olivo. Henry also leaves behind a large host of dear friends