Obituary – Robert Clayton “Clay” Avent
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Robert Clayton “Clay” Avent of Brick Church, Tennessee, passed away Saturday afternoon, June 28, 2025, at his home in Giles County. Born on May 16, 1970, in Memphis, Tennessee, he was 55 years old. Clay was a lifelong farrier, blacksmith, and cattleman. He served on the Community Board at First National Bank and enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially crappie fishing. Most of all, Clay cherished spending time with his family.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at Bennett-May & Pierce Funeral Home and Crematory. A funeral service will follow at 12:00 p.m. in the chapel. A private burial will take place Tuesday evening.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Jan March, and his grandparents, Virginia and Wade Beckman and Robert and Lela May Avent. Clay is survived by his wife, Meredith Blackburn Avent of Brick Church; his daughters, Ashlyn Lee Avent (Ryan) Vincion of Lewisburg and Allison Kathryn Avent of Nashville; his stepchildren, Elizabeth Laird Jackson and Tilden Kash Jackson, both of Brick Church; his brother, Casey William (Melinda) Avent of Woodbury, Minnesota; his niece and nephew, Anna Kate Avent and William Baine Avent, also of Woodbury; and his father, Terrance Robert (Sharon) Avent of Hastings, Minnesota.
He is also survived by his brother-in-law, James Knox (Stacey) Blackburn V of Franklin, Tennessee; his father-in-law, James Knox (Jennifer) Blackburn IV of Pulaski, Tennessee; his mother-in-law, Georgann Blackburn of Pulaski; and his nephew and niece, James Evan Blackburn of Leonard, Texas, and Alexandra Gail Blackburn of Columbia, Tennessee.
Pallbearers are Tilden Jackson, Evan Blackburn, John Carl Officer, Ian Stone, Will Lamon, and Houston Williams. Honorary pallbearers include Tony Bean, Knox Blackburn, Jeffery Burton, Tony Burton, John Allan Callaway, Coleman Crockett, Blane Crump, Phil Dunivan, Justin Jenne’, Tommy Jones, Richard Lack, Josh Lawwell, Jacob Massey, Joel Musgrave, Ed Murrey, Jeff Officer, Dick Pickle, John Paul Riner, Hassell Smith, Red Umberger, Frankie Wells, and Buck Williams.
Bennett-May & Pierce Funeral Home and Crematory are in charge of arrangements for Robert Clayton “Clay” Avent.
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