Mildred Jean (Hughes) Ray

Mildred Jean Ray, age 89, of Concord, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 26, 2023 at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital. A native of the Windom community, she was born on May 21, 1933 to the late Zebadee and Bertie Jones Hughes, and was raised by the late Robert and Ada Carroll. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her loving husband, Rex Clayton Ray, Sr.; brothers: Scotty (Jewel) Hughes, Vero (Elouise) Hughes, James Donald Hughes, Paul Hughes, and Billy Green Hughes; sisters: Emma Lea Shoe, Maude Edder Hughes, and Ola Mae (Vernon) Woody; stepmother, Sina Hughes; and beloved daughter, Judy Ray Lackey.

Left to cherish her loving memory is her brother, Roger Hughes of Spruce Pine; sisters, Polly (Ray) Lane of Burnsville and Joyce Buchanan of Johnson City, TN; sister-in-law, Linda Hughes; son, Rex (Eloise) Ray, Jr. of Burnsville; caretaker and granddaughter, Amy (Rev. Keith) George of Mars Hill; grandchildren: Daniel (Danica) Ray of Spruce Pine, Katie and Kyle Lackey of Canton, and Joshua Ray of Hendersonville; great-grandchildren: Abbey Jean, Ava Ann, Hunter Shelton George, Declan Noah and Daxton Luke Ray; special friends, Ettavee Boone and Sandra Davis.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Hospice of the Blue Ridge and Blue Ridge Regional Hospital, Autumn Laws, Merinda Bean, Tiffany Robinson and Andrew Bishop. Also, to the staff of Meals on Wheels.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Blue Ridge at 236 Hospital Drive, Spruce Pine, NC 28777 or Gideons International at PO Box 264, Burnsville, NC 28714.

Services will be held Thursday, March 30, 2023 in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home at 7 p.m. The family will receive friends and loved ones two hours prior to service time. Reverends Keith George and David Garland will officiate. Interment will be held the following day at 11 a.m. in the Ray Family Cemetery in Burnsville. Pallbearers will be Daniel Ray, Joshua Ray, Ricky Hughes, Jeff Bragg, Kyle Lackey and Roger Penland.

Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home is respectfully serving the Ray family.

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