Xernona Clayton Brady is a civil rights leader and broadcasting executive.

In 1968, Clayton became the first Southern African American female to host a daily prime time talk show. The show was broadcast on WAGA-TV in Atlanta and would eventually be renamed The Xernona Clayton Show.

Clayton is a graduate of Tennessee Agricultural and Industrial State University (now Tennessee State University). She also attended the University of Chicago for post-graduate studies.

Clayton's achievements are immense. She is the Founder, President and CEO of the Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc. and Creator and Executive Producer of the Foundation’s Trumpet Awards. The Trumpet Awards is a prestigious event highlighting African American accomplishments and contributions. Initiated in 1993 by Turner Broadcasting, the Trumpet Awards has been televised annually and distributed internationally to over 185 countries around the world.

Furthermore, Mrs. Clayton plays an active role in organizations across the country, for instance, she is on the board of directors of The King Center. During the Civil Rights Movement, Ms. Clayton was an active participant on the front lines. She organized events for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), under the direction of Martin Luther King. Dedicated to promoting racial understanding, Clayton has been a leader in civic projects and civil rights activities for several years. Her persistent fight against the dragons of prejudice and bigotry was never more apparent than in 1968, when the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan denounced the Klan and credited Clayton’s influence with his change.

In 1991, she published an autobiography, I've Been Marching All The Time.

In recognition of her contribution to broadcasting, her community and the nation, the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists named its scholarship in her honor and annually presents the Xernona Clayton Scholarship to a student pursuing a career in communications.