James Wilbur Raney

Born September 16, 1945, in Jefferson County, Arkansas, he was the son of the late George N. Raney and Lula Mae Culpepper Raney.

He was a member/Sunday School teacher of Blackburn Baptist Church in Hickory, NC and former member/Sunday School teacher of Greenhill Baptist Church in the Greenhill Community of Monticello, Arkansas and retired from Burlington Industries in Monticello, AR.

Wilbur loved his family and invested his time, a smile, and his servant attitude to everyone he encountered.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 32 years, Charlotte Pace Raney, of the home; sons, Paul Thompson and wife, Wanda of Hickory, NC, Randy Thompson and wife, Jennifer, of Hickory, NC; grandchildren, Jon Tyler Thompson and wife, Kristin of Birmingham, AL, Taylor Thompson, Arden Thompson, Katelynn Thompson, Kennedy Thompson, all of Hickory, NC, and Jason Russell and wife, Bekah of Houston, TX.

A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, July 21, 2013 at 4:00 p.m., at Blackburn Baptist Church in Hickory, NC with the Rev. Geary Walton officiating. A private interment will be held at Southside Cemetery in Newton, NC.

The Raney family will receive friends prior to the service from 2:00 to 3:45 p.m. at Blackburn Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorials be made to Blackburn Baptist Church, 5105 W NC 10 HWY, Hickory, NC 28602.