THOMAS MCMILLAN ‘SONNY’ SINCLAIR, JR. – Obituary
Thomas McMillan “Sonny” Sinclair, Jr., age 91, of Clayton, NJ, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at his home, surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of Jeannie Shirley (nee Kegg) Sinclair, with whom he shared 28 years of marriage beginning in 1955 and who was the mother of his children. He was later blessed to share his life with the late Marcia Mae (nee Furshner) Sinclair, with whom he began a relationship in 1991 and married in 2014; they remained together until her passing in 2022. Sonny was the devoted father of Thomas Sinclair (Dana, finance) of Williamstown, NJ; James Sinclair of Jacksonville, FL; Ronald Sinclair (Mary) of Woodstown, NJ; and Jill Sinclair (the late Steve Huster) of Monroeville, NJ. He was the proud grandfather of Lori Sinclair of Paulsboro, NJ; Tommy Sinclair (Jammy) of California; Danielle Byrdsall (Dave) of Malaga, NJ; Mia Sinclair, Liam Sinclair, and Emma Sinclair, all of Williamstown, NJ; Laura Buttner (Sam); Becky Simon; Jessicca “Jesi” Baldwin; Taylor Sinclair; Aaron Sinclair; Lindsey Huster (Ryan); Kelsey Huster (Rob); and Steven “Dink” Huster (Amanda). He also leaves behind many cherished great-grandchildren. Sonny was predeceased by his siblings, Jeanne Davis, Anne Sinclair-Kregg, Ruth Harrington, and Doris Snyder, and by his parents, Thomas McMillan and Caroline (nee Willis) Sinclair.
Born in Camden, Sonny was raised in the Westfield Acres and Cramer Hill neighborhoods in the East Camden section of the city. During his younger years, he earned a reputation as the “King of the Acres,” a fitting nickname for a man whose outgoing personality and adventurous spirit made a lasting impression on those around him. He attended H.B. Davis Elementary School, Woodrow Wilson High School, and Camden County Vocational and Technical High School.
Sonny proudly served his country in the United States Navy. He received his naval training at the U.S. Naval Training Center Bainbridge in Port Deposit, Maryland, and went on to serve aboard the USS Chester T. O’Brien (DE-421), a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort. His military service remained an important part of the story of his life.
In 1961, Sonny and his family made Clayton their home, where he would live for the next 65 years. He was a hardworking and skilled tradesman who spent more than 10 years as a machinist with Westinghouse. He later worked on and off for approximately 12 to 15 years with Len Craig Installers as a roofing and siding contractor. He also delivered furniture for J.B. Van Sciver Furniture Co. in Camden for several years and worked as a siding installer with S&S Siding for approximately six to eight years. For many years, he operated his own business, Sonny Sinclair Installations, specializing in siding and windows. Even after retiring from his primary career, Sonny continued working for a couple of years at Clay Drugs in Clayton, delivering prescriptions to local residents and enjoying the opportunity to remain active in the community.
Service to others and involvement in the community were important to Sonny throughout his life. He coached the Clayton Rams midget football team and the Twin Kiss Minor League Baseball team. He also served as Scoutmaster for the local Cub Scout and Boy Scout troop, passing along his knowledge, skills, and love of the outdoors to generations of young people. His own adventures as a Scout were among the stories that remained a cherished part of his life. As a young boy, Sonny would take a bus from Camden, get dropped off at Marty & Barb’s Deli in Clayton, pick up sandwiches, and then make the approximately 2½-mile trek on foot to Wilson Lake, where he would spend the weekend before walking back to catch the bus home to Camden.
Sonny was a longtime member of the Free & Accepted Masons, Medford Lodge 178, and was a member of the Four Season Archery Club. He served as President of the Glass Bowmen Archery Club, reflecting his lifelong enjoyment of archery and the camaraderie that came with it. He also loved country dancing, particularly evenings spent dancing at the Cedarwood Tavern in Malaga. Whether coaching, scouting, practicing archery, dancing, working with his hands, or simply spending time with those he loved, Sonny embraced life with enthusiasm and a genuine appreciation for people.
A devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, veteran, coach, Scoutmaster, craftsman, and friend, Sonny will be remembered for his strong work ethic, adventurous spirit, generosity, sense of community, and the many lives he touched throughout his 91 years. His family and friends will cherish the memories of a man who was proud of where he came from, grateful for the life he built in Clayton, and happiest when surrounded by the people he loved.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Sonny’s viewing on Thursday, September 3, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Barclay Funeral Home, 208 Maple Street, Clayton, NJ 08312. A funeral service will begin at 11:30 AM at the funeral home, with military honors and interment to follow at the Gloucester County Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Williamstown. To sign the guestbook and send condolences to the family, please visit BarclayFuneralHome.net. Huckle Buckle Beanstalk!
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