Gay McCoy Clyburn died peacefully in Charlotte on May 7, 2026, following an unexpected and severe illness.

Cynthia Gay McCoy was born in Anderson, SC to Naomi Ruth Gaddy McCoy and Daniel Webster McCoy on May 24, 1949, while Dan was a GI Bill student at Clemson College. The family moved from Greensboro to Monroe in 1962, where “Gay Mac” claimed fast friendships in the Methodist church, Girl Scouts and public schools, as a singer and inquisitive personality. A 1967 graduate of Monroe High School, Gay pursued a journalism program, first at the University of South Carolina; she then transferred to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning her BA in 1971 and then a Master of Liberal Arts. She taught Head Start kindergarten, worked for Union County Department of Social Services, edited the Union News and Home newspaper in Marshville, and was a stringer for WSOC-TV and the Charlotte Observer.

Her love of the dramatic and storytelling led her to starring roles with Monroe Little Theatre and the Charlotte Opera chorus for “Aida” (in Italian!), where she met the love of her life, Steve Clyburn. They moved to Boone for her to lead the news bureau at Appalachian State University in 1980. Gay and Steve married at Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Valle Crucis, and they were members of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. The American Association of State Colleges and Universities enticed them to Washington, DC in 1989, where she thrived in higher education public relations. Subsequently, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching lured them to Stanford, CA in 1999 as Vice President for Public Affairs. Wherever they resided, Christmas was always celebrated back at the McCoy home. After retiring, they joyfully and permanently returned to Monroe in 2015 to make their home.

Never one to sit idly in retirement, Gay plunged into the Union County Playmakers board as officer, production manager, fundraiser and cheerleader for all things theatrical and artistic. She served on the vestry of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, was a member of the Rotary Club of Monroe, and returned to her art as a painter in vibrant acrylics, in the studio that Steve created for her from the set of “Foxfire”.

Gay is survived by her devoted husband, Steve; brothers Dan McCoy, Jr. (Diana) and Bruce McCoy (Linda); nieces and nephews Dr. Erin McCoy (Joey Schumacher), Allison McCoy Kitchen (Peter); Matt McCoy (Katie), and Morgan McCoy Allman (Kyle); in-laws Cookie Sprouse (Walt) and Cindy Barwick (John); Clyburn family nieces and nephews, cousins Jeff Keller and Bryan Block; Marshall Sisters Rosemary Lauth and Patti Digh; Rebecca Alexander; her beloved pets: Westie Lizzie, Scottie Evie, and TabbyBoyz Ceci and Cinnamon.

All are invited to the Episcopal Requiem, which will be celebrated on Saturday, May 23 at 10:30am at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 116 South Church Street, Monroe. The service will be live streamed for those who cannot attend. A private interment for the family in the Columbarium will follow the service. Please join the family for a reception at the Clyburn home afterwards.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund for a permanent home for Union County Playmakers in Gay’s honor and memory has been established. Send checks to Union County Playmakers (memo: Clyburn Stage Fund), PO Box 1382, Monroe, NC 28111.

Online condolences may be made at www.gordonfuneralservice.com

Gordon Funeral Service & Crematory, 1904 Lancaster Ave, Monroe, NC 28112, is honored to be entrusted to care for the Clyburn Family.