H. Clay Gravely IV

1977 - 2017

H. Clay Gravely IV obituary, 1977-2017, Martinsville, VA

FUNERAL HOME

Collins-McKee-Stone Funeral Home - Martinsville

109 Broad Street

Martinsville, Virginia

H. Gravely Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Dec. 23, 2017.

H. Clay Gravely IV, 40, of Martinsville, Va., passed away on Thursday, December 21, 2017. He is survived by his wife Jennifer and their son, H. Clay Gravely V "Quinn," and are expecting a second son, Brooks, next summer. He is also survived by his mother Crystal Gravely Helbing Austin (Jim) and brother Glynn Coryell Gravely (Rikki). He was predeceased by his father H. Clay Gravely III.

Clay and Jennifer married in 2013, and welcomed their first son in 2016.

Clay was born in Martinsville on May 1, 1977. He attended Carlisle School, Holland Christian High School in Michigan and graduated from Phillips Academy in Massachusetts. Clay received a bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia in 1999 where he was a member of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and the Honor Council. He received his law degree from the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond in 2004. While there, he served two years as a senior staff member of the University of Richmond Law Review, and was a member and chief justice of the Honor Council.

Clay was elected and served as the Commonwealth's Attorney for the City of Martinsville from 2014 to 2017 and was reelected to serve a second term in November 2017.

Prior to serving as Commonwealth's Attorney, Clay managed a private law practice in Martinsville. He also served as an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in Martinsville; an associate of the Daniel, Medley & Kirby, P.C. firm in Martinsville; a litigation associate at Hirschler Fleischer, P.C. in Richmond; a law clerk for Judge Jackson L. Kiser of the U.S. District Court from the Western District of Virginia; worked at the National Republican Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C.; and served as an assistant campaign manager for a congressional candidate in Michigan.

Clay was a board member or member of the Kiwanis Club of Martinsville-Henry County, the Boys & Girls Club of the Blue Ridge, the Virginia Museum of Natural History and the Dan River Basin Association. He was a longtime attendee of and counselor at the Culver Summer Schools and Camps in Indiana.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 26, 2017 at Christ Episcopal Church. A private burial will follow. A reception will be held on Wednesday, December 27 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Christ Episcopal Church Parish House.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center or Duke Cancer Institute.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Memories and Condolences
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January 16, 2018

Kristopher Henman

No words can express how devastating this news is. I met Clay when we co-clerked with Judge Kiser. He was a great friend to me during that time. He was outgoing, funny, smart, kind, and just had one of those personalities that put people at ease. He took me to my first NASCAR bar and got me my first fried pickle (and boy, he loved those things :)). I even remember when he got his dog and how much love and attention he gave it. You could just tell how great a husband and father he would be. He had a lot of life to give the world, and I know he lived it well. My prayers and all good thoughts go to his wife and children.

January 11, 2018

Friend

Betsy Hughes

I am so very sorry to learn of Clay's passing. After attending Carlisle together and growing up in the same neighborhood, I was lucky enough to cross paths a few times with Clay after the family had moved away. I was always entertained by his humor and impressed with the man that he had become. Jennifer and family, you are all in my prayers.

January 4, 2018

Lin Flower Evans

Dear Crystal: So so very sorry. This is tragic for you and the family and we all hope the love and prayers from family and friends can sustain you in this saddest of time. I will give you a little time then try to reach out to you. In the bonds, Lin Flower Evans

January 1, 2018

Janet/Steve Magennis

Crystal and family, we are sad to learn of this loss. Heartfelt prayers.

December 29, 2017

Susan Vanderbilt

My heart goes out to Clay's family----Jennifer, Crystal and Glen, upon suffering such a tragic loss. May God give you strength to face the days ahead and to be able to find comfort in the loving memories that Clay left behind.

December 29, 2017

Cynthia & Harry Armstrong

Love and hugs to all the Gravely family and extended family. Our hearts go out to you and we pray for comfort and guidance during this time of great grief. Clay was a really wonderful person. I will never forget the first time that I met him as a boy, at his mother's Christmas party. He greeted us at the door and stuck out his hand in a welcoming hand shake, at an age when most children would hide behind their mother's back. He was gracious, and outgoing to adults even as a boy, which is a very endearing attribute. He will be greatly missed! Much Love Cynthia and Monk Armstrong

December 29, 2017

Dana Dews Gates

My deepest condolences and sympathies to Clay's beautiful family. Clay and I were classmates at Richmond Law and on Law Review together, and I will always remember him as super smart but also a super jokester :) Sending prayers to all of you.

December 28, 2017

Suzanne Ramler

Sending prayers to your family in this time of loss. Clay will always be in my memories from UVA and UR law school.

December 28, 2017

Our deepest sympathy at this sad time for all the family. May your memories of Clay bring you peace and comfort in the days ahead.
Jeani & Sam Martin, Holland, MI

December 27, 2017

Chip & Carolyn Lackey

To wife Jennifer, Mom Crystal and Uncle Will and all family members, we were shocked to learn of Clay's passing. I was with his father Clay (SR) the day he died---we had grown up together, attended rival colleges, trained together in OCS and even served with Pershing missiles in the same town in Germany when he met Crystal. A fine family who we think of often. Travel forward with the the many good memories of both Clay(s)and prayers from all of us...

December 27, 2017

Sending love and prayers to Clay's family. The last time I saw him was at the church that I attend, Mt. Sinai Apostle Church for the Elections Matters Conference in October. I'm still processing his death but God!

Bernice Martin, Martinsville, Va.

December 27, 2017

Jessie & Ron Dalman

We are Clay and Crystal's HOLLAND friends. How shocked and sadden we are to hear of Clay's passing. We knew him growing up in Holland and the wonderful young man he became. Our hearts go out to Jennifer and her son, Crystal and Jim. May God's presence be with you and the entire family at this time. Jessie and Ron Dalman

December 26, 2017

I had lay as a middle school student at Holland Christian. He had an active mind, an inquisitive mind, an engaging personality and a witty and usually humorous comment for every situation. Prayinfg for Clays family.

December 26, 2017

Eddie Cassady

Jennifer and Family, Clay will be sadly missed by the Members of the Martinsville Police Department. Our prayers for peace and comfort are with you during this time.

December 26, 2017

Gloria Hendley

I was so sorry and stunned to hear this. I moved out of the area 32 years ago, but I grew up in Martinsville and come very often. I worked in the office at Gravely Furniture from 1979-1984. It was my first full-time job. I remember Clay when he was born and seen him as a little boy. I remember when his Dad died. He died at such a young age as well. I knew his Dad, Grandfather and Will. My sympathies are with his family. Gloria B. Hendley

December 26, 2017

Patti Farmer

I worked as Judicial Assistant in the City of Martinsville for 25 years and met Clay when he started practicing law in Martinsville. He was an excellent attorney, very smart and compassionate. Always prepared for court, courteous, and respectful to the court, his clients and everyone that worked with him. I feel very blessed to have known him and his passing is a great loss to our community. He loved his family and was so proud of Quinn. All though our heart aches, I believe the angels are rejoicing as they welcome him home. Prayers for peace and comfort for his family, friends and co-workers.

December 26, 2017

G. Carter Greer

Jennifer and family, Clay was an outstanding Commonwealth's Attorney, who in four short years reinvigorated the office and improved its relationship with the courts. To him much credit is due for the decrease in violent crime in our community. Clay was an even better human being, whose kind and affable nature imbued his life. We in the court system are grieving. May God in His infinite mercy comfort you.

December 26, 2017

Karen Ehinger

My heart aches at this news. I met Clay when he was just a little boy, as I visited his mother Crystal in Holland Michigan. He grew to be the kind of man that any mother would be proud of.

December 26, 2017

Kathy Billings

So sorry for your loss. Clay was a wonderful person. He will truly be missed. Family is in my prayers.

December 25, 2017

Wayne Kirkpatrick

Our sincere sympathy and thoughts are with your family. Clay served on the Dan River Basin Association Board with distinction; we are honored to have worked with him. Wayne M. Kirkpatrick, DRBA Director

December 25, 2017

May God's loving kindness comfort you and help you through this very sad time
Psalms 29:11

December 25, 2017

Elizabeth Isley Riley

Our sincere sympathies to your family. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

December 24, 2017

Our deepest condolences go out to you Crystal and to your Family at this difficult time. Our prayers and thoughts are with you Love, Barry and ShIrley Bowles

December 24, 2017

Kim and John Engel

We are keeping the family in our thoughts and prayers.

December 23, 2017

Rose Semonco

My deepest condolences to your family. May God bless you and comfort you in this time of sorrow.

December 23, 2017

Missy Lannom

Prayers for this wonderful family.

December 23, 2017

Jim & Susan Reaghard

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

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