Clay William ShephardNovember 25, 1992 - May 17, 2015ApexOur charismatic and beautiful son and brother died Sunday morning from a drug overdose. Clay was the youngest of four children, raised in a loving home in Apex with two brothers and one sister. Outwardly Clay looked like he had it all: Intelligence, confidence, athletic ability, height, beautiful blue eyes, broad smile, fantastic wit, and the ability to engage and forge a relationship with anyone. Inwardly Clay was sensitive and had struggles that he hid well from his close and clannish family.We loved Clay with all of our hearts, but we now know that was not enough to shield him from the world. This note isn't an attempt to assign blame for Clay's death. It's not to vent our anger and frustration at a world where drugs can be ordered and delivered through the internet. We write this obituary in hope that it may provide an insight to those that need to change their behavior one night at a time.Clay was a solid student, decent athlete, and a very likeable kid. With his seemingly endless positive traits, he had the potential to be anything from a captivating politician to a brilliant engineer, but drugs began to creep into Clay's life while he was in high school. As trouble hit, his father stepped in and forged an incredible bond with Clay. Although Clay could never be completely honest about the trouble he was in, his love and respect for his father became a lifeline over the last few years. He successfully completed drug rehab several times, but the craving that comes from true addiction was more than he could overcome.While we always felt we had some grip on Clay's issues, his ability to hide and disguise his addiction proved superior to our parental (and sibling) sixth sense. The worry that we have felt watching Clay struggle, has been replaced by a deep feeling of loss that now exists knowing we will never see his smiling face again. Despite these troubles, we can smile knowing that the last communication we had with Clay was a text and answer between mother and son to say "I love you", just as it should be.To all children, this note is a simple reminder that there are people who love you, with everything they have and no matter what you do - don't be too afraid/ashamed/scared, too anything, to ask for help. To all parents, pay attention to your children and the world that revolves around them - even when the surface is calm, the water may be turbulent just beneath. Clay's struggles have ended. He is finally at peace. We will miss his keen sense of humor, impersonations, cooking, plant advice and rhythm on the dance floor.Goodbye Clay, we love you and miss you dearly.Mom & Dad, Cole, Wade & Jess, Jean & LucasPlease send thoughts, wishes, and prayers to Apex Funeral Home @ www.ApexFuneral.net The family requests that any donations in memory of Clay be made to Carolina Tiger Rescue at carolinatigerrescue.org ||||| Heart-wrenching obit after son dies of overdose goes viral Posted: Thursday, May 21, 2015 1:01 PM EDT Updated: Thursday, May 21, 2015 5:13 PM EDT 
 
 Authorities in Chatham County put a school on lockdown Monday while helicopters and dogs searched for a suspect who is dressed only in pajama bottoms and was found sleeping in a woman's bed earlier Monday, officials said. Investigators from the Chatham County Sheriff's Office are conducting the manhunt for Adrien Tyron Hurley, age 19, of Chapel Hill 
 
 Authorities in Chatham County put a school on lockdown Monday while helicopters and dogs searched for a suspect who is dressed only in pajama bottoms and was found sleeping in a woman's bed earlier Monday, officials said. Investigators from the Chatham County Sheriff's Office are conducting the manhunt for Adrien Tyron Hurley, age 19, of Chapel Hill 
 
 Authorities in Chatham County put a school on lockdown Monday while helicopters and dogs searched for a suspect who is dressed only in pajama bottoms and was found sleeping in a woman's bed earlier Monday, officials said. Investigators from the Chatham County Sheriff's Office are conducting the manhunt for Adrien Tyron Hurley, age 19, of Chapel Hill 
 
 Authorities in Chatham County put a school on lockdown Monday while helicopters and dogs searched for a suspect who is dressed only in pajama bottoms and was found sleeping in a woman's bed earlier Monday, officials said. Investigators from the Chatham County Sheriff's Office are conducting the manhunt for Adrien Tyron Hurley, age 19, of Chapel Hill 
 
 Teen in pajamas caught in woman's bed now on the run in Chatham County, officials say 
 
 Teen in pajamas caught in woman's bed now on the run in Chatham County, officials say 
 
 It's a big step for a local company looking to make even bigger strides in women's sexual health. The "little pink pill" has gotten preliminary approval from the FDA, now workers with Sprout Pharmaceuticals are talking what's next for the drug. 
 
 It's a big step for a local company looking to make even bigger strides in women's sexual health. The "little pink pill" has gotten preliminary approval from the FDA, now workers with Sprout Pharmaceuticals are talking what's next for the drug. 
 
 It's a big step for a local company looking to make even bigger strides in women's sexual health. The "little pink pill" has gotten preliminary approval from the FDA, now workers with Sprout Pharmaceuticals are talking what's next for the drug. 
 
 It's a big step for a local company looking to make even bigger strides in women's sexual health. The "little pink pill" has gotten preliminary approval from the FDA, now workers with Sprout Pharmaceuticals are talking what's next for the drug. 
 
 A Raleigh student has hopes of heading to heading to Harvard, but he needs help. Micah Council, 15 is a student at Enloe High school. He has been nominated to attend Harvard's National Student Leadership conference in Boston this summer. T 
 
 A Raleigh student has hopes of heading to heading to Harvard, but he needs help. Micah Council, 15 is a student at Enloe High school. He has been nominated to attend Harvard's National Student Leadership conference in Boston this summer. T 
 
 A Raleigh student has hopes of heading to heading to Harvard, but he needs help. Micah Council, 15 is a student at Enloe High school. He has been nominated to attend Harvard's National Student Leadership conference in Boston this summer. T 
 
 A Raleigh student has hopes of heading to heading to Harvard, but he needs help. Micah Council, 15 is a student at Enloe High school. He has been nominated to attend Harvard's National Student Leadership conference in Boston this summer. T 
 
 About 1,000 people showed up for a Moore County Board of Education meeting that comes after 3 of the 8 members have resigned just days after the board decided to fire the superintendent.The meeting is taking place as of 6:30 pm and is in "executive session" which is not open to the public. The meeting is being held in the gym at Union Pines High School.Angry supporters of recently ousted Supt. Bob Grimesey are clamoring at a chance to voice their frustrations.The board voted 5-3 Thursday to f... 
 
 About 1,000 people showed up for a Moore County Board of Education meeting that comes after 3 of the 8 members have resigned just days after the board decided to fire the superintendent.The meeting is taking place as of 6:30 pm and is in "executive session" which is not open to the public. The meeting is being held in the gym at Union Pines High School.Angry supporters of recently ousted Supt. Bob Grimesey are clamoring at a chance to voice their frustrations.The board voted 5-3 Thursday to f... 
 
 About 1,000 people showed up for a Moore County Board of Education meeting that comes after 3 of the 8 members have resigned just days after the board decided to fire the superintendent.The meeting is taking place as of 6:30 pm and is in "executive session" which is not open to the public. The meeting is being held in the gym at Union Pines High School.Angry supporters of recently ousted Supt. Bob Grimesey are clamoring at a chance to voice their frustrations.The board voted 5-3 Thursday to f... 
 
 About 1,000 people showed up for a Moore County Board of Education meeting that comes after 3 of the 8 members have resigned just days after the board decided to fire the superintendent.The meeting is taking place as of 6:30 pm and is in "executive session" which is not open to the public. The meeting is being held in the gym at Union Pines High School.Angry supporters of recently ousted Supt. Bob Grimesey are clamoring at a chance to voice their frustrations.The board voted 5-3 Thursday to f... 
 
 A former math teacher at Eastern Guilford High School, who was arrested Friday in Mebane and charged with having sex with a student, is in Orange County District court Monday. 
 
 A former math teacher at Eastern Guilford High School, who was arrested Friday in Mebane and charged with having sex with a student, is in Orange County District court Monday. 
 
 A former math teacher at Eastern Guilford High School, who was arrested Friday in Mebane and charged with having sex with a student, is in Orange County District court Monday. 
 
 A former math teacher at Eastern Guilford High School, who was arrested Friday in Mebane and charged with having sex with a student, is in Orange County District court Monday. 
 
 A Wake County man can officially call himself an "American Ninja Warrior." Devin Harrelson runs a tattoo shop in Cary and lives in Fuquay-Varina with his fiancee and two children. 
 
 A Wake County man can officially call himself an "American Ninja Warrior." Devin Harrelson runs a tattoo shop in Cary and lives in Fuquay-Varina with his fiancee and two children. 
 
 A Wake County man can officially call himself an "American Ninja Warrior." Devin Harrelson runs a tattoo shop in Cary and lives in Fuquay-Varina with his fiancee and two children. 
 
 A Wake County man can officially call himself an "American Ninja Warrior." Devin Harrelson runs a tattoo shop in Cary and lives in Fuquay-Varina with his fiancee and two children. 
 
 A family's touching obituary for their son who died of a drug overdose at the age of 23 has been shared by many on social media. 
 
 Clay William Shephard died Sunday morning, according to an obituary posted on Legacy.com and in The News and Observer Wednesday. 
 
 The obituary said Shephard was the youngest of four children and was raised in a loving home in in Apex with his two brothers and a sister. 
 
 “Outwardly Clay looked like he had it all: Intelligence, confidence, athletic ability, height, beautiful blue eyes, broad smile, fantastic wit, and the ability to engage and forge a relationship with anyone. Inwardly Clay was sensitive and had struggles that he hid well from his close and clannish family,” the obituary said. 
 
 “We loved Clay with all of our hearts, but we now know that was not enough to shield him from the world. This note isn't an attempt to assign blame for Clay's death. It's not to vent our anger and frustration at a world where drugs can be ordered and delivered through the internet. We write this obituary in hope that it may provide an insight to those that need to change their behavior one night at a time.” 
 
 The obituary didn't shy away from Shephard's problems, In fact, Wake County arrest records show he was charged with a DWI on May 5. The family described Shephard as a “solid student” and good athlete who was liked by many. But the obit said “drugs began to creep into Clay's life while he was in high school.” 
 
 His father became close to Shephard and sought to help him. 
 
 “Although Clay could never be completely honest about the trouble he was in, his love and respect for his father became a lifeline over the last few years,” the obituary said. “He successfully completed drug rehab several times, but the craving that comes from true addiction was more than he could overcome.” 
 
 “While we always felt we had some grip on Clay's issues, his ability to hide and disguise his addiction proved superior to our parental (and sibling) sixth sense.” 
 
 The obituary closed by saying, “Goodbye Clay, we love you and miss you dearly. 
 
 Mom & Dad, Cole, Wade & Jess, Jean & Lucas.” 
 
 Clay Shephard was having a private burial at Apex Funeral Home. 
 
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– Clay Shephard died on May 17, and the obituary for the 23-year-old from Apex, NC, clearly shows the love his family had for him, listing his "intelligence, confidence, athletic ability, height, beautiful blue eyes, broad smile, fantastic wit, and the ability to engage and forge a relationship with anyone." But the Shephards were also determined not to sugarcoat how he died, penning what WNCN calls a "heart-wrenching" death notice that details how Shephard succumbed to his drug addiction: "Our charismatic and beautiful son and brother died Sunday morning from a drug overdose. Outwardly Clay looked like he had it all. … Inwardly Clay was sensitive and had struggles that he hid well from his close and clannish family. … While we always felt we had some grip on Clay's issues, his ability to hide and disguise his addiction proved superior to our parental (and sibling) sixth sense." The blunt openness of the obituary—which also notes the close relationship he shared with his dad, a mention of the last "I love you" text he sent to his mom, and a call to all other parents to keep tabs on their kids—has been adopted in other recent obits of young people who struggled with drugs. "This note isn't an attempt to assign blame for Clay's death," Shephard's family writes. "It's not to vent our anger and frustration at a world where drugs can be ordered and delivered through the internet. We write this obituary in hope that it may provide an insight to those that need to change their behavior one night at a time." That hope has affected at least one family so far. In a recent letter in the News & Observer, Paul and Lorelei Milan say, "As parents of teenagers, we plan to read Clay's obituary at the dinner table and have an open, honest discussion of the reality of drugs and how it can spiral out of control very fast." (Similar obituaries here and here.)