Mark Eads Clayton

Mr. Mark Eads Clayton 59, of Fortson, Georgia, passed away Thursday, November 04, 2021, at Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown Campus.

Visitation will be Tuesday, November 09, 2021, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory 3874 Gentian Blvd., Columbus, GA 31907.

Mark was born December 24, 1961, in Knoxville, TN. to the late B. Joe and the late Dorothy Sharrett Clayton. Because his father owned a car dealership, Mark grew up in the car business. He sold his first car at 16, and he never looked back. Mark moved to Columbus in 1990 to become one of the youngest car dealers in the Mercedes-Benz franchise at the time. Mark also served on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Auto Dealer Association.

Mark loved to give back to his community, specifically to The Boys & Girls Club and the American Heart Association, which he has supported for over 15 years. He also loved to play golf, especially with his late father and his daughter Jessica, who recently moved to Columbus to follow in Mark’s footsteps with the business. Mark was an avid fan of the University of Tennessee football team, the Falcons and the Braves. Although he was battling the effects of chemotherapy, Mark enthusiastically followed the post season to cheer on the Braves, and he was ecstatic to see them win the World Series.

Survivors include his wife Ashley Clayton; daughter Jessica Clayton (Tania Richards); brother Richard Clayton (Victoria); sister Deborah Justus (Randy); and two nieces Britney Justus and Christina Sullivan (Josh). Mark is also survived by his extended family and his work family, who loved him dearly.