Claudie Raye Grant, Jr.

Claudie Raye Grant Jr., was the first child born to Rev. Claudie Raye and Earline Grant May 23, 1955 in Yoakum, Texas. Claudie Raye Jr. accepted Christ as his Lord and Savoir at an early age, and was baptized under the leadership of the late Reverend Emmitt Smith Sr. Junior, as he was fondly called, had a gifted voice and loved to sing. He was an active choir member at Progressive Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Emmitt Smith Sr.. Claudie Raye was a dedicated member of the local community choir, Donald Bedford Choral. Junior later moved his membership to Greater Bethel Missionary Baptist Church where his father, Reverend C.R. Grant, was the pastor, and continued his love for the Lord through inspirational solos. Before his passing he attended New Direction Christian Center under the leadership of Reverend Oliver Moffett. Claudie Raye attended the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) where he graduated from Highlands High School in 1972. He continued his journey by entering into the United States Air Force on October 26, 1973, as a Vehicle Operations Journeyman. He had a wonderful career working alongside the General at Sheppard Air Force Base before his honorable discharge. Although Junior never married or had children, he had a great love for his nieces and nephews and played a big part in their lives. Claudie Raye Grant Jr. was a inspiration to anyone who came in contact with him, and had a gift of making those around him laugh. He had an imagination for turning objects into things that only he knew what they were intended for. He had a thing for giving those he loved nicknames such as: Slim, Cabbage Patch, Twiggy, Patricia and Claudie, Crunch, Big Bird, Snatch-n-Grab, Skillet, and Skin. He is preceded in death by his father and mother Claudie Raye and Earline Grant and one great-nephew Anthony (Fat Boy) Clark. He departed this life, September 8, 2014, and is survived by his stepmother Johnnie M. Grant; sisters Tesselene Kuykendall (Xavier), Lorna Gail Jefferson (Hoyt), and Tammie Rinehart; uncle William Arkadie; aunts Josephine Bunton, Janie Brazil, and Jessie M. Harper; eight nieces and nephews Crystal Grant, Shawanna Grant, Nacole Lee-Jackson (Ervin), Windell Hill (Tia), David Ward (Felicia), Kai Williams, Xavier E. (Skin) Kuykendall Jr., and Diamond Jefferson; and a host of great nieces, nephews, and friends.