Edwin S. "Sam" Clay III

Edwin Samuel “Sam” Clay III passed away May 7, 2026 surrounded by his family in his home in Alexandria, Virginia at the age of 80. A beloved husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, neighbor, mentor, book lover, patron of the arts, Motown enthusiast, opera and classical music aficionado – Sam lived his life to the fullest and is missed by so many. He was unique in his humor, sophistication, kindness, curiosity, and Southern charm, marked by his signature laugh, smile, and accent.

A Virginia native and resident his entire life, Sam was born in Blackstone, Virginia on July 16, 1945 to Margaret “Tootsie” Inge Clay and Edwin “Turk” Samuel Clay, Jr while his father was away as a young soldier in World War II. He graduated from Blackstone High School in 1963 and got his BA at Randolph Macon College in 1966, quickly followed by his Masters of Library Science (MLS) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1967. He started his career as the head of the library at Virginia Wesleyan College at age 22, followed by roles in public service with Virginia Beach city management including Library Director and eventually as the Assistant to the City Manager for Public of Information and Human Resources. He was selected as Outstanding Young Man of Virginia in 1980.

Following their wedding on May 8, 1982, Sam and his wife Debra relocated from the Tidewater region to Northern Virginia where he began his long-standing leadership role as the Director of the Fairfax County Public Library. Sam led the library system for 34 dynamic years, bringing the libraries into the digital age and always viewing the library as more than a place to check out books but rather as a crucial resource for the community. He taught courses for Catholic University’s School of Library and Information Sciences and served on the board of numerous organizations supporting the arts and education – including the Virginia Arts Commission, the Fall for the Book Festival, and Wakefield School in The Plains. Sam retired in 2016 and enjoyed reading the daily newspapers and books of all genres – especially mysteries and non-fiction on technology, history, or architecture.

Sam loved the arts – going to museums especially the Met and National Gallery and attending concerts, plays, ballet, and operas in the DC region and NYC. Some of his favorite venues were the Shakespeare Theatre, the Folger, the Kennedy Center, and Wolf Trap. He also loved to laugh – while watching Saturday Night Live, having a Manhattan, or enjoying cocktail hour on the beach with family and friends.

Sam is survived by his wife Debra DeHart Clay; his daughter Maggie Clay Menold, son-in-law Alex Menold, and grandchildren George Samuel and Caroline Rose Menold; brother and sister-in-law David and Mish Clay; beloved in-laws, cousins, nephews, and nieces in the Clay / Inge and DeHart / Giese / Kalasinsky / Reckling / Walston / Whitfield families; and many dear friends and neighbors. Debra, Maggie, and Alex would like to thank so many for their love and support during Sam’s cancer treatment this spring and in the recent challenging weeks.

Celebrations of Sam’s life will be held this summer in Alexandria, Virginia at the Marina Towers Condominium on Saturday July 11th from 3-6pm, as well as in Virginia Beach, Virginia on Saturday July 18th from 12-3 pm at the home of the Thomas family (address upon request). Parking is limited at both locations. As Sam used to say, “underwear optional.”

In lieu of flowers (although Sam loved many kinds of flowers), please consider a donation in his name to your local public library or organization supporting the arts, education, or cancer research – such as the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA), the Fairfax Library Foundation, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.