October 9, 2011

Funeral for Melissa Estella Ray of Hartselle will be Wed., Oct. 12, at 3:30 p.m. at East Highland Baptist Church with Bro. Walter Blackman officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.

Visitation will be Tues., Oct. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. She will lie in state for one hour at the church before the funeral.

Burial will be in Hartselle Memory Gardens.

Mrs. Ray died Sun., Oct. 8, 2011, at Lawrence County Medical Center. She was born in Waynesboro, Tenn., to Albert Galletin Clay and Kelta Mary Frances Kilburn Clay. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She and her husband Fred celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary March 31, 2011. She was a member of East Highland Baptist Church and served for over 30 years as a preschool Sunday school teacher. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Loudean Brewer Warren.

She is survived by her husband, Fred E. Ray of Hartselle; a son, Mark Ray and wife Alana of Birmingham; two daughters, Wanda McAbee and husband Billy of Hartselle and Cindy Anderton and husband Gene of Town Creek; a sister, Alberta Clay Barnett of Tullahoma, Tenn.; eight grandchildren, Rachel McAbee and fiancé Steven, Corbett McAbee, Meagan McDonald and husband Todd, Matthew Anderton and wife Rebecca, Mindi Stowe and husband Jeremy, Braley Ray, Charlie Ray and A.J. Ray; and three great-grandchildren, Stella Blue McDonald, Weston Anderton and Wesley Stowe.

Pallbearers will be Shane Alexander, Danny Stephenson, Richard Gurley, Charles Rhea, Don South and Jere Lett.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Men’s No. II Sunday School Class at East Highland Baptist Church.

Memorials may be made to East Highland Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 888, Hartselle, AL 35640.

The family expresses appreciation for the exceptional care given by the staff at NHC Healthcare in Moulton and Lawrence County Medical Center.