Juanita Ray Martin, 82, of Water Valley, MS died at her home on March 16, 2011. Born in Lafayette County in 1929, she was a daughter of Ottis W. and Gertha Overstreet Ray. Mrs. Martin was a homemaker and worked in the Water Valley Schools for 10 years. She volunteered with the Pink Ladies and was a member of the local square dance club called the Water Valley Whirlers. Devoted to her church, Camp Ground Baptist, and to her faithful God, she was involved with the Homebound Ministry and was a member of the Adult Ladies Sunday School Class. She loved her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and she enjoyed flower gardening, sharing her flowers, and reading. Mrs. Martin was preceded in death by her husband, S. F. Martin in 2001.
Visitation will be from 5 until 7 PM Friday, March 18, 2011 at Seven Oaks Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 10 AM in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks with Bro. David Ross presiding. Burial will be in Pine Flat Cemetery in Lafayette County with Joe Black, Bob Taylor, Stephen Yopp, Richard Hessler, Roth Hessler, and Winston Hessler serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Gary Pottinger, Buddy Wilson, Betty Naramore, Shirley Mills, and the members of the Camp Ground Baptist Adult Ladies Sunday School Class.
Mrs. Martin is survived by four daughters, Jean Black and her husband Joe, of Water Valley, MS, Judy Martin of Louisville, KY, Cynthia Taylor and her husband, Bob, of Duck Hill, MS, and Sandra Hessler and her husband Richard, of Roswell, GA; one sister, Annie Ray Miller and her husband, Chuck, of Oxford, MS; two brothers, Johnnie Ray and his wife Thelma, of Madison, MS and James Ottis Ray of Oxford, MS; eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Clara Ray Howard and Susie Ray Tidwell; and three brothers, Raymond Ray, Price Ray, and George Ray.