Claytea Alston, our dearly beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother departed this life on Sunday, April 5, 2020. Claytea was born on February 7, 1930 in Littleton, North Carolina.
Claytea was the oldest of nine children born to Betty Boyd and Ollie Pullen. Her childhood home was rich in all the things that matter — love of God, commitment to family, and resolve to work through struggles together. The home was filled with noise, laughter, good food and lots of storytelling.
Claytea grew to adulthood and married her friend and love, John Henry Alston. John and Claytea were married for 56 years before he predeceased her on November 11, 2004. During their long marriage, they raised children in the same type of home in which Claytea was raised — close-knit, loving and active. Claytea’s concept of family was big. From her marriage, there were four children, five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Claytea taught us that family doesn’t mean just blood. Over her lifetime, she opened her home to friends and extended family who needed a place to stay just until they could make it on their own. Importantly, she was a childcare provider for 20 years and helped raise generations of children with the same love and care that she did her own.
Claytea loved big family gatherings that included not only her own children but her sisters and brothers and their children. As long as she was able, she loved to cook for this big sprawling group. Everyone attending could count on the smell of homemade rolls coming from the kitchen and hope to get a piece of cheesecake, made from her still-secret recipe. Until the end of her life, she spoke every day to some or all of her sisters and brothers.
Claytea was a religious woman who loved her church. She was baptized as a child at the Lees Chapel church in Littleton, NC. She was a founding member of the Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church of New Haven. Ultimately, she was a member of the Church of Christ, Gem Street where she worked for the Kingdom of God for nearly 40 years. Claytea loved Gem Street. She was active in Sunday school, the women’s ministry and the senior ministry. Long after she could no longer walk on her own, she attended church every Sunday with the help of her family. Nothing was more pleasing to her than fellowship with the congregation at Gem Street.
Claytea leaves to mourn her, four children Carolyn, John (Deborah), Audrey and Sherri Alston; five grandchildren Lamar (Monet), Ashon (Erica), Terrance (Shanita), Stacey and Karey Alston; five great-grandchildren Lamar Jr., Alonna, Ashley, Amber, and Amare Alston; three sisters Kapana (Coleman-Predeceased) Wallace, Georgia (Walter) Brunson, and Velma (Ned) Bert; three brothers John (Frances), Melvin (Sula) and Ollie (Barbara) Pullen; a host of other friends and relatives, including her niece Gloria Ballard who cared for her in her later life.
A calling hour will take place Friday, April 17, 2020 from 9:00 – 10:00 AM at Howard K. Hill Funeral Services, 1287 Chapel St, New Haven, CT 06511. Interment will be private. To leave a message of comfort for the Alston family, please visit, www.hkhfuneralservices.com