Elijah Claiborne Jr. entered this life on April 9, 1933. He was a native of Ascension Parish, by way of Hillaryville, LA, and the first of twelve children born to the parentage of the late Annistine Kelson Claiborne and Elijah Claiborne, Sr. "Sonny Boy" or "Mike", as he was affectionately called by many, was a faithful servant of God. He was baptized by the late Clarence Pedesclaux at Hopeful Baptist Church. He served as the Head Deacon for over 20 years. His spiritual walk with the Lord grew each passing day until it reached its full capacity. He faithfully attended mid-week bible study, prayer service, and Sunday school. Elijah served continually until God saw fit to call him home. He departed this life on June 15, 2022, at Clarity Hospice in Baton Rouge, LA.

After the untimely death of their beloved mother, Elijah's father remarried Thelma Jenkins Claiborne. This union added another ten siblings to the lives of Elijah and his eleven siblings.

E lij a h w o r k e d a s a pa n e l o p e r a t o r f o r o v e r 45 y e a r s a t B u r n s i d e T e r m i n a l / O r m e t Corporation. During his tenure at Burnside Terminal, he met a young lady named Jannie Ann Ursin. They were united in holy matrimony on January 8, 1972. To this union four children were born.

Elijah leaves five children to cherish his memory (Winnfort J. Myles [Deborah] of Brandon, MS, Nyokee J., Novelyn L., and Norvan L. Claiborne of Hillaryville, LA, and D a m i o n R . C l a i b o r n e [ A li s h a ] o f G o n z a l e s , L A ) . H e a l s o l e a v e s b e h i n d f o u r grandchildren (Nijah J. Claiborne, Avery B. James, and Bryce M. and Brock M. W illi a m s ) , t e n s i s t e r s , f i v e b r o t h e r s , s e v e n s i s t e r s - i n - l a w , s e v e n b r o t h e r s - i n - l a w , t w o g o dc h il d r e n ( M o n i ca P e r k i n s - C l a y t o n a n d T r o y d e ll H a rr i s ) , a n d w e ll - o v e r t w o hun d r e d n i e c e s , n e p h e w s , g r e a t - n i e c e s , a n d g r e a t - n e p h e w s c o m b i n e d .

E lij a h i s p r e c e d e d i n d e a t h b y h i s w i f e ( J a nn i e A nn U r s i n C l a i b o r n e ) , h i s pa r e n t s ( E lij a h C l a i b o r n e , S r . a n d A nn i s t i n e K e l s o n C l a i b o r n e ) , s t e p m o t h e r ( T h e l m a J e n k i n s - C l a i b o r n e ) , t h r ee b r o t h e r s ( E u g e n e C l a i b o r n e , S r . , L y n e a l C l a i b o r n e , S r . , a n d J e ff e r y C l a i b o r n e , S r . ) , t w o s i s t e r s ( G e r a l d i n e J . S t e p h e n s a n d J a nn i e s M a e C . C a s t e r ) , f a t h e r - a n d m o t h e r - i n - l a w ( J o s e p h a n d E ll e n T a y l o r U r s i n ) , g o dc h il d r e n ( D e b r a M il e s a n d J a m e s B r o w n ) , s i x s i s t e r s - i n - l a w , s i x b r o t h e r s - i n - l a w , a un t s , un c l e s , a n d other relatives.