Clayton Belle
July 4, 1948 – May 25, 2026

Obituary

Clayton Anthony Belle transitioned peacefully at Memorial Herman Hospital – Texas Medical
Center with his son, Clayton Anthony Belle, Jr., by his side on Monday, May 25, 2026. Clayton
recently struggled with complications from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). As a
result, other medical complications became too much for him to recover from.

Clayton was born on Sunday, July 4, 1948 in St. Joseph, Trinidad, West Indies, to Fitzroy Belle and
Unita Briget Belle. Clayton was the eldest of three, with two younger siblings, Patrick and
Margarette. In his early years, he attended St. Joseph Boys RC and California (Trinidad) Government
Primary School. He later attended John S. Donaldson Technical Institute in Port of Spain, Trinidad,
where he studied various industrial trades. In 1966, a widowed Unita traveled to the United States
seeking opportunities to provide for herself and her family. In 1968, Clayton joined his mother in
Washington, DC, followed by Clayton’s then fiancée, Esther Huggins from La Romain, Trinidad in
1969. His younger siblings joined the family in 1970. Later that year, he married Esther and
immediately began to build his family. In 1972, his first son, Clayton Jr., was born in Washington,
DC. Four years later, his second son, Irwin, was born in Maryland. Clayton’s young family followed
him wherever the work took him.  From Riverdale to Dundalk, Maryland, to Metairie, Louisiana,
Clayton did not pass up an opportunity for career advancement.

In 1982, Esther and Clayton’s marriage ended and he met Delores Riley (deceased), who he married in
1983 in Louisiana. The marriage was followed by a move to Laredo, Texas in 1984, accompanied by
Delores’ son, Lionel. Again, it was an opportunity to expand his professional portfolio and work
for a major petroleum company, Transamerican Natural Gas Corporation, at an executive level as a
Purchasing Manager. Clayton and his family resided in Laredo, Texas until 1989. Delores, Clayton,
and Clayton Jr. relocated to Missouri City, Texas. Clayton and Delores’ marriage ended in 1993.
Around 1995, Clayton met his third wife, Judy, (deceased). They were married in 1998 and remained
together until her untimely death in 2022 from cancer. Together, they shared a life of family and
culture that was unbreakable.

As a Trinidadian, Clayton loved and embraced every part of Trinidadian culture, specifically
Carnival, steel pan, and his homeland’s rich cuisine. No matter what was going on each year,
Clayton would make sure that he was in only one place on this planet every February or March- “back
home” in Trinidad for Carnival. His love for everything Carnival was expressed every year by
“playing Mas” and supporting his beloved Desperadoes Steel Pan Orchestra. If you knew Clayton
Belle, there were some very steady constants. He was always listening to steel pan music and
calypso, cooking “a pot of something” or traveling to wherever his Trinidadian culture,
specifically Carnival, was being celebrated. He traveled to almost every Carnival celebration in
the United States when he could- Caribana in Toronto; Labor Day in
New York; Carnival in Boston, Baltimore, Washington, DC, and Miami were always places you
could find Clayton. When he met Judy, she shared his enthusiasm for their shared
Trinidadian culture. In recent years, before her passing, they did not miss many Carnival
celebrations together.

Clayton considered himself a “people person.” His friendship with those he encountered
became lifelong friendships that materialized into unofficial and official extensions of his
own family. He has good friends dating back to his schoolboy days in Trinidad, as well as
friends he met through his associations with Trinidadian culture over the years. These
friends were his support system through the toughest of times. They kept him pushing
through in recent years as he managed his health challenges and continued to grieve the
loss of his wife Judy.

Clayton was preceded in death by his father Fitzroy Belle, his mother Unita Briget Belle, his
wife Judy, and his stepson Sean. Clayton leaves to mourn his loving sister Margarette,
brother Patrick (Cheryl); his children Clayton Jr. (Deborah), Irwin, Lisa, Nadia (Dwight), Nicole
(Keylo); his grandchildren, Ahmina, Tasir, Dillon, Daniel, Mekai (his sidekick), Trinidad, True,
Kamino, Kimaya, and Nino; his niece Nicole (Tremayne); nephew Dauryl (Aeriell);
goddaughter Bernadine; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, associates, and
extended family.

Clayton’s family wishes to thank all of the friends and family, from near and far, who sent
their well-wishes and prayers to him during his health challenges over the past few years
and particularly during the difficulties of the past few weeks. Clayton’s family is profoundly
appreciative and grateful to all who provided love, support, and comfort.

We little knew the day that
God was going to call your name
In life we loved you dearly
In death we do the same

It broke our hearts to lose you
But you didn’t go alone
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home

You left us peaceful memories
Your love is still out guide
And though we cannot see you
You are always at our side

Our family chain is broken
And nothing seems the same
But as God calls us one by one
The chain will link again.

Poem By Ron Tranmer

Family will meet Friends and Guests:
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
5 – 8pm
Haven Memorial Funeral Home Southeast
6605 Schurmier Road
Houston, Texas 77048

Funeral Services:
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Viewing, 10 – 11am
Funeral Mass, 11am
Holy Family Catholic Church
1510 Fifth St.
Missouri City, Texas 77489

Burial: Private

If you would like to order flowers for the family, please order from our flower shop at Haven using the link below.  The colors would be reds and whites to symbolize the Trinidad Flag.
Click here to order flowers for Clayton Belle’s service.

For livestreaming of the service, please click below: