Tensil Tennant Clayton from Wilson, NC, died peacefully on March 8, 2025 in the house of her daughter in Raleigh after a short fight against aggressive cancer. She was born on March 12, 1943 in Fairmont, West Virginia, and was the youngest of nine children of Lester and Reta Sayre Tennant.
She is survived by her beloved husband of almost 60 years, George Clayton von Wilson. Her daughters Nancy Clayton (Casey Champion) from Raleigh, NC, and Josephine Clayton from Wilson, NC; Her son Brian Clayton by Corpus Christi, TX; and their esteemed grandchildren, Cameron champion by Birmingham, Al, and Katherine Champion from Raleigh, NC.
Tensil, a devoted woman, mother and grandmother, was the heart of her family. She was always there to support her husband and children. After becoming grandmother, she found an immense pleasure and proud to follow her way of life, and never missed a sporting event, a dance or a music performance or a milestone.
Tensil was a lifelong educator and scholar. She completed the Barrackville High School and in 1965 acquired a Bachelor of Arts in English and social studies at Fairmont State University, where she was dated a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority and with George with College Football Quarterback. She was a mother with her children at home, but on the way she pursued her graduate studies at Southern Illinois University and Suny Brockport. Later she acquired a master's degree in education management at East Carolina University in 1992. She taught English for many years in Wilson County Schools and was later a school administrator in Wilson, Halifax and Martin County Schools. She was also a trainer for family members at the National Alliance on Psychical Illness. She continued the tutoring and replaced teaching well. She loved to swim children every summer in the Wilson Recreation Center Pool.
She was a lover of the arts and a lifelong learner. She was an enthusiastic reader and long -time member of her book club wraps (reading and parlaying) and friends of the Wilson Public Library. She enjoyed calligraphy, genealogy, bird observation, went into art museums, heard live music concerts and journey, explored many European goals and more of the stringing paths such as New Zealand and Iceland.
Tensil and George joined the first Baptist Church in Wilson shortly after moving to Wilson in 1980. She was active in the Thomas Hadley chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) for 32 years and a member of North Carolina Questors.
A celebration of life will take place on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 2 p.m. in the first Baptist Church, 311 Nash Street NW, Wilson, NC, with Rev. Chris Thomas, D. Min. Chair. The visitation will follow in Church Fellowship Hall.
Instead of flowers, memorial donations in Tensil's names to first Baptist Church, 311 Nash Street NW, Wilson NC 27893 or to the Thomas Hadley chapter by Dar, Ms. Caroline Anderson, Treasurer, 3909 Redbay Lane N, Wilson NC 27896.
Arrangements by Joyner Funeral Home and Crematory in Wilson, North Carolina.
Tensil's friendliness, intellect and unshakable love for your family and community are deeply missed.
Condolute to Joyner's funeral institute and crematory at www.joyners.net.