Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Greenwood for Eddie Ray, 77, of Greenwood, who gained his angel wings on Saturday evening, Feb. 17, at his residence. Burial followed in Woodlawn Memorial Park in Grenada. The family received friends from noon until service time on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at the church.
Eddie was born on April 30, 1946, in Greenwood, the son of the late Edward W. Ray and the late Robbie Carver Ray. He grew up and attended Greenwood schools where he graduated from Greenwood High School in 1964. He then attended Mississippi Delta Jr. College in Moorhead and then Delta State University where he majored in business and accounting.
Eddie lived in Grenada where he was the owner of Quality Cleaners and also served as city manager. He later returned home to Greenwood where he was the office manager for "The Greenwood Commonwealth" until his retirement. When asked how long he worked for "The Commonwealth," he would say, “since the third grade.” He worked there through school and most of college.
Eddie served as a member of the Mississippi National Guard and later the Army Reserve. He was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. He was a gentle and quiet man with a loving heart. He loved his friends, his family and especially his grandchildren. He later married his childhood friend, Evelyn Christopher. Together they packed a lot of love and adventure into his last years. If it was Thursday, you would always find them at the Alluvian for happy hour where they enjoyed listening and dancing to the music. He enjoyed meeting up with old and new friends, and he would especially enjoy meeting the guests from all over the country that had come to visit the Delta. He was a wonderful ambassador for the City of Greenwood.
Eddie was an avid reader and could be found on his patio or in his favorite chair with a book in his hand. One of his favorite past times was caring for and just watching all the cats in the neighborhood. Regardless of the weather, he was always ready to throw a steak on the grill, grab a beer and listen to some Louie Armstrong on the patio, which would always end with a few dances with Evelyn. They loved entertaining friends with a good fire in the pit and just enjoying friendships and family.
He will be truly missed, not just by his family, but by all those that knew him.
In addition to his parents, his wife, Debra Ray, and sister and brother-in-law, Becky Ray Kunz and Lester Kunz, preceded Eddie in death.
Survivors include, his wife, Evelyn Christopher Ray; son, Marty Ray of Grenada; brother, Ron Ray (Helen) of Gustine, Texas; four stepchildren, Amy Ries (Derick) of Rocklin, Calif., Richard Ashley of California, Barrett Johnson (Angie) of Berlin, N.H., and Morgan Rushofsky (Paul) of Boerne, Texas; 12 grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Pallbearers will be Richard Avant, Brant Godbold, Charles McCoy, Ron McRee, Kent Savage and Steve Webb.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to Delta Streets Academy in Greenwood.
The family wishes to extend special thanks to Grace Hospice for their care and to Josh Wheeler and Janet Blaylock.
Online condolences can be expressed to the family at www.mckibbenandguinn.com
McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada was in charge of arrangements.
