William Franklin “Bill” Ray, 95, of Enigma passed away Friday, July 12, 2024, at Fellowship Home in Nashville. His funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, July 14, 2024, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with Kyle Woods and Tyler Woods officiating. Eulogies will be offered by Mr. Ray’s son, Kevin Ray, and his granddaughter, Sarah Swan. Mr. Ray will be laid to rest at Tift Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends on Sunday, July 14, 2024, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals from 1:30 p.m. until the hour of the service.
Mr. Ray’s grandsons, Clark Coarsey, Lindsey Tucker, Lawson Swan, Jordan Harper, C. J. Scroggins, John Ray, Tucker Swan, as well as Junior Barnes and Gary Kearce will serve as pallbearers.
Born September 19, 1928, in Lax, Georgia, Mr. Ray was the son of the late James Frank Ray and Beatrice Hogan Ray. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Jean Claunch Ray; and one sister, Lucille Jernigan. He was a retired farmer; and he was a member of New Beginnings Worship Center in Brookfield. He was also a veteran of the United States Army and served during the Korean War.
Mr. Ray is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Sherri Ray of Enigma; two daughters and sons-in-law, Debbie and Scott Tucker of the West Berrien Community and Kathy and Hal Harper of Niceville, Florida; one sister, Frances Woods of Tifton; seven grandchildren and their spouses, Clark and Sherri Coarsey, Lindsey and Sonya Tucker, Sarah and Lawson Swan, Jordan and Cayleigh Harper, Hannah and C. J. Scroggins, John Ray and Keri Ray; and five great-grandchildren, Greta Coarsey, Tucker Swan, Caroline Tucker, Abbie Tucker and Murphee Harper.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Mr. Ray’s caregivers, Shirley Poke, Linda Curry, Ray Holley, Millie Baden ad Kennedy Jackson, for their tender care of Mr. Ray.