09/04/2026
Wrapping up our Meet the Crossway Team with co-owner Clay Thomas.
Clay Thomas: Building More Than Homes
For Clay Thomas, real estate has never been simply about buying and selling houses. It is about people, community, opportunity and helping build a place where families can put down roots.
As a REALTOR® and co-owner of Crossway Realty, Clay has built a career around helping people navigate one of the most important decisions they will make. His experience extends far beyond the traditional real estate transaction. As co-owner of Riverbend, a residential construction and development company, Clay brings a unique perspective to the table—one that combines real estate expertise with firsthand knowledge of construction, land development, market trends and the long-term value of a property.
That combination has become one of Clay’s greatest strengths.
A South Georgia Perspective
Clay is a Mercer University graduate and a lifelong advocate for the communities of South Georgia. Real estate has provided a natural intersection of his entrepreneurial spirit, business experience and love for the people and communities he calls home.
At Crossway Realty, Clay works with buyers and sellers across the region, helping clients with residential properties, relocation, commercial real estate, rentals and investment opportunities. His experience is reflected in hundreds of completed transactions.
But for Clay, the numbers tell only part of the story.
Real estate is personal.
Every transaction represents a family moving into a new chapter, a first-time buyer purchasing a first home, a seller making a major transition, or an investor looking for an opportunity. Clay believes the best REALTOR® does more than open doors and write contracts. A great REALTOR® listens, understands the client’s goals and brings experience and perspective to the process.
Seeing the Entire Picture
Clay’s role with Riverbend gives him something particularly valuable in today’s real estate market: an understanding of what happens after the contract is signed.
Clay and business partner Michael D’Ambrosio founded Riverbend in 2017. What began with renovation and resale projects eventually grew into a licensed residential construction company focused on custom homes, spec homes, multifamily projects and development throughout South Georgia.
That experience has given Clay an insider’s understanding of the relationship between land, construction, design, financing and resale value.
It also means that when Clay walks onto a property, he is not looking at it only through the eyes of a REALTOR®. He is looking at the land, the house, the possibilities and the challenges.
He understands what makes a property valuable—and what can make a seemingly good opportunity a difficult investment.
That perspective is particularly important as South Georgia communities continue to grow and as families increasingly look for quality housing close to the communities they already know and love.
Community First
Clay’s connection to real estate is ultimately rooted in something larger than business: his commitment to community.
Over the years, he has been involved in numerous community organizations and initiatives, including the Okefenokee Miracle League, Magnolia House, the Okefenokee Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and other local causes.
That spirit of service has been recognized throughout Clay’s life. At Mercer University, where he graduated in 1996, Clay received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Medal, an honor recognizing character, leadership, service to the community and spiritual values. More recently, in 2025 Clay received the Morris Jacobson Brotherhood Award.
Family and Faith
Away from the office, Clay’s greatest priorities are his family and his faith.
He and his wife, Brooke, have two children, Banner and Neeley. Clay and Brooke are deeply connected to their community and to First Baptist Church Blackshear, where Clay and Brooke have served together in ministry and Sunday School.
That commitment to family, faith and community shapes the way Clay approaches his professional life as well.
He believes relationships matter.
He believes a handshake should mean something.
And he believes that doing business well means treating people well.
More Than a Transaction
The South Georgia real estate market is changing, but Clay’s philosophy remains straightforward: know the market, know the property, know the people and be willing to work hard for the right outcome.
His work with Crossway Realty and Riverbend allows him to approach real estate from a perspective few agents possess. He can help a client find an existing home, evaluate land, understand new construction, consider an investment or navigate the sale of a property—with the benefit of years of experience on both sides of the real estate and construction industries.
For Clay Thomas, that is what real estate is really about.
It is not just about houses.
It is about helping people find the right place, making smart investments, creating opportunities and contributing to the communities he loves.
Because ultimately, Clay isn’t just in the business of selling real estate.
He’s in the business of building communities, building relationships and building a future.
Clayton Thomas, REALTOR®️ & Co-Owner
📱912-281-0951
GA LIC 374316
Crossway Realty | 912-548-1515
