Hazel Ernestine Angell Ray

Hazel “Ernestine” Ray of Winston Salem, age 88, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, December 12, 2010. She had been a resident at Graybrier Nursing Home in Trinity since 2007. Mrs. Ray was born in on January 16, 1922 to Ernest Lafayette Angell and Hazel Catherine Davenport. She was also preceded in death by her two beloved sisters Lorna “Angel” Chambers and Emily Little, both of Winston Salem. Ernestine graduated from Reynolds High School two years ahead of her class and then received a Business Certificate from Draughon Business College in 1939 before working for the Winston Salem Chapter of the Girl Scouts of America.

In 1944, Ernestine married Corp. Bill Hurt Ray, also of Winston Salem, during furlough from his tour of duty with the Army Air Corps. After moving to Greensboro she was employed as an Executive Secretary with JP Stevens and later worked part time for over twenty years with Sears and Roebuck in Customer Service. After beginning her retirement years of traveling and being with family and friends, she then moved back to her hometown of Winston Salem where she worshiped at Calvary Baptist Church and then Green Street Baptist Church after most recently moving to Archdale.

Ernestine is survived by her husband of sixty six years, Bill Ray. She was a loving mother to three sons, William Ernest Ray of Santa Clara, CA, David Winston Ray and wife Carolyn of Archdale and Randall Hunter Ray of Elkin. She was a loving grandmother to Stephanie Ray-Nichols, Jenny Ray, Jessica Ray, Libby Ray and step-grandchildren Brian and Michael Hughes, the sons of her beloved daughter-in-law, Carolyn Ray.

The family will receive friends at Sechrest Funeral Home in Archdale from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday December 14th. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 15th at 2:00 p.m. at Green Street Baptist Church on 303 North Rotary Drive in High Point with Rev. Tripp May of Bethabara Moravian Church in Winston Salem, son of Bill and Ernestine's life-long friends, the late Ann and “C.L. May and Rev. Mark Loy of Green Street Baptist Church officiating. Victoria Livengood, Mrs. Ray's cousin, will sing. The service in celebration will be followed by burial at Forsyth Memorial Park in Winston Salem.

The family would like to thank the staff at Graybrier for the care and compassion given to our Mom. Memorials may be given to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering at Green Street Baptist Church in High Point. Please offer condolences with the family at www.sechrestfunerals.net.