Melvin Ray, 57, of Tifton, died Friday, June 9, 2006, in Pearl, Mississippi. Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 16, 2006, at 2:00 p.m. at Wayside Baptist Church. Rev. Smith Gentry and Rev. Jack Perrin will officiate with burial to follow in Wayside Baptist Church Cemetery. Stephan Ray, Mitchell Ray, Tom Ray, Jim Ray, Marc Lindsey and Mike Carroll will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Larry Register, Harmon Tawzer, Sr., Glenn Tawzer, Steve Curry, Charles Calahan and Grady Thompson, Jr. The family will receive friends on Thursday, June 15, 2006, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Ray was born on March 11, 1949 in Tift County and was the son of Dempsey Ray and Nora Lynch Ray, both deceased. He was a truck driver, member of Wayside Baptist Church and a U. S. Army veteran, having been stationed in Korea.
Mr. Ray is survived by three sons, Brian Ray of Tifton, Brett Ray of Tifton and Chett Ray of Moultrie; and five brothers, Carl Ray of Tifton, Tommy Ray of Tifton, Earl Ray of Macon, Royce Ray of Tifton and Larry Ray of Gainesville.