I thought that a new set of eyes looking at your Bass/Lay family history might uncover some new information. Following is what I've found and my thoughts:

In 1790 a Riddick Bass was enumerated in Franklin County, NC. Possibly related is a Reddick (maybe Redding) Bass enumerated on a 1793 tax list of Thorntons District in Wilkes County, North Carolina.

Note: I think there’s a good chance that the names Redding and Riddick/Reddick may be the same, although the person in 1790 may have been your Redding’s father or grandfather or perhaps an uncle.

A Pendleton District SC deed dated July 24, 1819 shows that David Lay owned land on the Little River bordering a 640 acre plat owned by Jeptha Norton.

In 1830 David Lay lived in Pickens County, SC. Elizabeth Lay would have been about 14 and he had two daughters between the ages of 10 and 15.

Redding Bass was in Cherokee County as early as 1840 when he was enumerated as Redden Bass in the census. He lived next door to David Lay, age 60-70, who may have been Elizabeth’s father. Redding was age 20-30, his wife was 20-30 and they had three daughters: 2 under the age of 5 and one age 5-10. Based on the 1850 census, it appears that two of the girls died between 1840 and 1850.

1850 census of Cherokee County, Georgia
Household 541/Family 542
Redding Bass, age 39, born in NC
Elizabeth, 34, born in SC
Susan, 10, born in GA
Azalia M., 7, born in GA
James D., age 15, born in GA
Rebecca, 1, born in GA
Note: It appears that the census taker was sloppy and omitted dwelling 538 and 540 and double counted dwelling 541. I don’t think the Timmons and Bass families were in the same dwelling.

1860 census of Harbins District, Cherokee County, GA
HH 1653
Redding Bass, age 48, born in NC
Elizabeth, age 45, born in GA
Carolina, age 18, born in GA
Malinda, age 17, born in GA
James D., age 14, born in GA
Nancy R., age 12, born in GA
Charles F., age 8, born in GA
Anderson T., age 6, born in GA
Note: Information from the 1870 census indicates Nancy R may be Nancy Rebecca
Also in 1870 Redding’s birth state is listed as Georgia and Elizabeth’s as South Carolina. I would tend to rely on the earlier reports in the census for their birth places.

The 1860 agricultural census shows that Redding Bass’s farm included 40 improved acres and 40 unimproved acres with a total value of $1000. His farm implements and machinery were worth $100 and his livestock was worth $300.

In 1880 Elizabeth was living in the same area of Cherokee County as before with her son Anderson and his family. As for (James) Redding’s place of death and burial about January 16, 1879, I’d look in one of the counties surrounding Cherokee for his grave.