LaFAYETTE, Ala. — Mr. Prather Slay, 92, of LaFayette, Ala. died Thursday March 15, 2018 at the East Alabama Medical Center.

Mr. Slay was born in Chambers County on March 19,1925 to the late Simmie Slay and the late Mabel Moon Slay. He was a farmer known around the state as the “Apple Man” and later as the “Tomato Man” but by those who knew him best he was called Pops.

He was the fifth generation member of his family to farm here in Chambers County. He was a founding member of the Horseshoe Bend Apple Co-Op, was a board member of the Chambers County Farmers Federation for 36 years and served three terms as president. He was a founding member of the Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Assoc. His farm was chosen as the Heritage Farm and the Century Farm. He served as president of the Alabama School Of The Deaf PTO, was the Alabama Farm of Distinction district winner, He represented agriculture on the Chambers Industrial Development Authority, served on the Alabama Farm Market Board for many years and was an inaugural member. He served nine years on ALFA State Market Board, two years as chairman. He was the last surviving member of the Mt. Hickory Primitive Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be held Sunday March 18, 2018 at 2 p.m. CDT at the Chapel Hill Methodist Church with burial to follow in the church cemetery with Elder Roswell Smith and the Rev. John Samanie officiating.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home Saturday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. CDT. Mr. Slay is survived by his wife of almost 70 years, Lillian Slay of LaFayette; five  children, Simmie (Charlene)  Slay, John Slay, and Jane (Rickey) Elliott, all of LaFayette, Mary (Rusty) Terry of Lanett, Ala. and Phil (Kim) Slay of Five Points, Ala.; grandchildren-Sally (David) Slay of Monroe, Ga., Scott (Maggie) Slay of Grantville, Ga., George (Katie) Slay of Lanett, Tyler (Amanda) Slay of LaFayette,, Sarah (David) Ruffin of Waverly, Ala., Richard (Emily) Elliott of Greenville, Ms., Robert (Megan) Elliott of Opelika, Ala., Jonathan (Bess) Elliott of Washington, D.C.,  Abbey (Evan) Hengeveld of Springville, Ala., Russell (Shiree) Terry of Lanett, Andrew (Cierra) Terry of Lanett, Rachel Terry of Valley, Ala., Zac Slay of Auburn, Ala., Hannah Slay of Auburn, and  Audra Slay of Five Points; great-grandchildren- Cruz Slay, Ford Slay, Laney Jane Slay, Rainy Wooten, Titus, Jude, and Lillian Elliott, Emily, Owen and Jack Hengeveld, Molly and Colt Terry and a brother, Huey (Lois) Slay of LaFayette.

Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to the Mt. Hickory Cemetery Fund or to the Chapel Hill Cemetery Fund  c/o Phil Slay 26216 US Hwy 431 Five Points, Alabama  36855.

On line condolences may be sent to jeffjonesfuneralhome.com. Jeff Jones Funeral Home, LaFayette, is handling the arrangements.