Alta Clayborne

View her Video Tribute: http://videos.lifetributes.com/273343Amory – Alta Lou Thompson Clayborne, 101, was welcomed home to heaven on Wednesday, January 4, 2012. She passed away at the Gregory House of the Greenhouses of Traceway Retirement Community in Tupelo. Born on July 10, 1910, in Cherokee, AL, Alta grew up in Okolona, MS.She played basketball for Okolona High School where she was salutatorian of her graduating class of 1930. Alta furthered her education at Miller-Hawkins Secretarial School in Memphis and worked at McCall’s Pattern Company in Memphis and Dallas.On August 21, 1936, she married Leland Kelly Clayborne of Tupelo. When they moved to Amory, Alta worked as a bookkeeper for Toney’s Bakery. She later worked for the Amory Electric Department as office manager until retiring in 1982.Alta was a long-time, very active member of First Baptist Church, Amory where she served many years as a children’s Sunday School teacher, VBS teacher, Sunday School Department Director, and was an active member of Triple L Club. She was a past-president of Pilot Club and was a member of the Eastern Star. Known for her sense of humor and positive outlook on life, Alta loved going to church and spending time with her family and friends. An avid follower of Mississippi State sports, she especially enjoyed listening to Jack Cristil.A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11 AM, Friday at E. E. Pickle Funeral Home with Dr. Allen Simpson and Bro. Jimmy McFatter officiating. Burial will follow in Masonic Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Dan Jenkins, Larry Fears, Mike Shelton, and Jimmy Sharp. Honorary pallbearers will be Johnny Marion Thompson, Charles Kelly Thompson, Chris Toney, Jr., Carl Thompson, Bobby Thompson, and David Thompson.Visitation will be from 9:30 AM until the service hour at the funeral home.Survivors include a son, Michael K. Clayborne (Julie), Tupelo; granddaughters, Kayla Clayborne, Nashville, and Kelsey Clayborne, Tupelo; and a host of nieces and nephews.Mrs. Clayborne was preceded in death by her husband, Kelly Clayborne; parents, Frank M. and Lucy Rutland Thompson; two sisters; and seven brothers.Memorials may be given to First Baptist Church, PO Box 540, Amory, MS 38821 or to Sanctuary Home Hospice, PO Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38803.Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at eepicklefuneralhome.com.