Ernestine Lucille Vance Clay

Ernestine Lucille Vance Clay, of Macon, Ga passed away on August 9, 2014, surrounded by her loved ones after a long battle with lung cancer. She was born on February 2, 1932 in Cedartown, Georgia to Hoyt and Lucille Vance. Later the family moved to Tift County, where she finished Tift County High School in 1949. Ernestine moved to Macon in 1949 and entered Macon Hospital School of Nursing, where she graduated from in 1952. That same year, Ernestine married John Henry Clay Jr. Mrs. Clay is survived by her daughters, Lisa Wright (A.W.) of Lizella, Evy Willingham (Jay) and Amy Lindsey, both of Macon; grandchildren, Matthew Wright (Uma), Jonathan Wright (Katie), Jennifer Lindsey Strickland (John), John Calder Willingham (Jennifer) and Caroline Willingham Letson (Corey); great-grandchildren, Mason and Ty Wright, Mary Kathryn and Will Wright, Kaylee Grace and Bradley Clay Strickland , Zoey Elizabeth Willingham; sisters, Margaret Ann Vance Cannon of Columbus and Martha Sue Vance Gowen of Jacksonville, Florida; brothers, William Hoyt Vance, Jr. of Tifton and James "Jimmy" Lewis Vance of Buckhead. Ernestine was predeceased by her husband in 1984; her sisters and brother, Mary Elizabeth Sledge, Ruth Vance Morley and Joseph Wylie Vance and her granddaughters, Emily Amelia Willingham and Elizabeth Ford Willingham. Ernestine was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church and the Upper Room Sunday School Class. A registered nurse, she worked at The Medical Center, Macon Bibb County health Department and Coliseum Park Hospital for 40 years. While at Coliseum Park Hospital she was instrumental in establishing the Obstetrical Wing. She touched every life she came into contact with including those she assisted bringing in the world as a labor and delivery nurse. Services will be held on Tuesday August 12, 2014 at 2:00PM at Wesley United Methodist church with Reverend Mark Magoni officiating. The family will have a private burial. The family will greet friends before the service from 1-2pm. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Pine Pointe Hospice, 6261 Peake Road, Macon, Georgia, 31210. Register online at www.hartsmort.com. Hart's Mortuary and Crematory at the Cupola, 6324 Peake Road, has charge of arrangements.