Francis Marie Ray

Francis Marie Ray ("Mamaw"), was born on July 23, 1934, in Elora, Tennessee, and passed away peacefully on March 11, 2026, at the age of 91, surrounded by her loving family. A resident of Gardendale, Alabama, Marie retired from AT&T/BellSouth after many years of dedicated service.

She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother who cherished times spent with her family. Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Bennett Stephen Ray, Jr.; her parents, William Forest and Rosa Lee Mason; her sisters, Eloise Moman (J.D.) and Peggy Nash (Louie); and her brothers, Red Mason (Frankie) and L. B. Mason (Dean).

She is survived by her loving children: Bennett Stephen "Steve" Ray III; Connie Marie Ray Shotts; Robert Allen Ray (Lisa); and Darryl Wayne Ray (Emily). She also leaves behind eight grandchildren--Christina "Crissy" Johnson (Derek), Katherine "Kat Isbell (Aaron), Kayla Ray (Austin), Stephanie Shelton, Jackson Ray (Kristina), Jonathan Ray (Kimberly), Adam Ray (Lindsey), and Larissa Stanley (Bradley)--as well as nineteen cherished great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at Ridout's Gardendale Chapel, 2029 Decatur Highway, Gardendale, AL 35071, on Sunday, March 15, 2026, beginning at 1:00 pm, followed by a Graveside Service to be held at Oakwood Memorial Gardens, 2100 Moncrief Road in Gardendale at 2:00 pm. 

Marie will be deeply missed and forever remembered in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.