Obit – Mr. Phil (Pee Wee) Claywell
Mr. Phil (Pee Wee) Claywell of the Buffalo Community quietly and peacefully answered his call from his earthly life to his eternal reward at 1:07 p.m. at the age of 80 at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville on Tuesday afternoon March 10, 2026 with his family at his bedside.
Eld. Jimmy Langford officiated at the Friday afternoon March 13th funeral services from the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home. Burial followed beside his first wife and the mother of his two sons, Brenda Dianne West Claywell who died February 12, 2001 at the age of 49.
Mr. Claywell was born Philip Gary Claywell in Nashville and was the ninth of ten children, six sons and four daughters of the late Arthur Bryant (A.B.) Claywell Sr. who died at the age of 85 on September 21, 1985 and Flossie May Robinson Claywell who died at the age of 75 on June 5, 1982.
Phil and Brenda were preceded in death by an infant daughter Diana Carol Claywell who died at birth on February 17, 1969.
Siblings preceding him in death were; Geneva Claywell White who died on February 17 2024 at the age of 94, Evelyn Joyce Claywell who died at 1 year of age on February 29, 1932, Elizabeth “Betty” Claywell Zukas who died August 3, 2009 at the age of 82, Myra Joy Claywell Powell who died March 15, 2005 at the age of 69, and by three brothers, Bobby Claywell who died April 19, 1998 at the age of 65, Arthur Bryant Claywell Jr who died October 31, 2002 at the age of 77, and Jimmy Claywell who died September 5, 2018 at the age of 79.
Mr. Claywell was a 1964 graduate of Smith County High School where he had a triple major in Science, Social Studies and Mathematics. He was a tri-athlete having played, football, basketball, and baseball simultaneously for three years. He was in the chorus his senior year, in the “C” Club for his final three years of high school and his junior year was in the Christmas pageant.
It was stated of him in the ’64 Owl annual that he was; “exciting, likeable, independent and slow but sure.”
Following high school, he was drafted into the United States Army and was inducted on October 19, 1965 and did his basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia. After serving in the Vietnam Era as a Military Policeman, he was honorably discharged from the 523rd Military Policeman Company at Aberdeen Proving Ground, in Aberdeen, Maryland on October 18, 1967 with the rank of Specialist Fourth Class. For his meritorious service he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Marksman Badge (Rifle) Good Conduct Medal, Expert Badge with Pistol Bar.
Mr. Claywell retired following a thirty-year career on September 2, 2000 from the United States Army Corps of Engineers at the Cordell Hull Dam Powerhouse with the position of Senior Electrician.
On April 20, 2002, he was united in marriage to Defeated Creek Community native, the former Linda Swann Anderson.
Mr. Claywell stated he was saved at home in his bed and had joined the Peyton Creek Baptist Church in the Monoville Community where he served as a Deacon and retained his membership at death.
After his retirement, Phil was an avid outdoorsman that enjoyed fishing, hunting, farming and traveling.
He was a perfectly devoted family man who loved spending time with his eight grandchildren.
Surviving in addition to his wife Linda Anderson Claywell of almost twenty-four years are Mr. Claywell’s two sons, Kevin Claywell and wife Stacey of the Defeated Creek Community, Kenny Claywell and wife Tanya of the Chestnut Mound Community; Linda’s two children, Tiffany Anderson Angel and husband Stacy of Carthage, Lance Anderson and wife Holly Shoulders Anderson of the Tanglewood Community; eight grandchildren, Hailey Angel, Becky Langford and husband Eld. Jimmy Langford, Gracey Angel, Gary Claywell, Hannah Anderson, Jacob Claywell, Bella Anderson, and Presley Claywell; two brothers, Terry Claywell and wife Evonne Bransford Claywell of the Defeated Creek Community, Steve (Tennie) Claywell and wife Darlene Blair Claywell of the Pleasant Shade Community.
The family has requested memorial be made to the Tennessee Baptist Childrens Home and those may be made by coming by or calling Sanderson Funeral Home at 615-735-2118.
SANDERSON of CARTHAGE
