John Keith Wray

A visitation will be held on Thursday, November 19, 2020 from 12:00 to 1:00 pm at Parkway Memorial Cemetery in the common area outside the mausoleum. A service will immediately follow, also in the common area.

John was born and raised in Jackson, MS. He graduated from Central High School in Jackson in 1968. He took great pride in his MS heritage.

The way he died is just like he lived: he wrote his own rules, paved his own way, he fought for integrity & lived by the word of God. And if you said he couldn’t do it, well he would make sure he could.

He was larger than life. He was the type of man that people would drive 16 hours at the drop of a hat to come see. He lived 1000 calendar years we had with him because he attacked life, he grabbed it by the lapels, kissed it, and swung it back onto the dance floor.

He took pride in his service to his country with the US Army ranked as a Warrant Officer 63rd company 6th Battalion as a Helicopter Pilot. John went on to accomplish a successful 40 year career in Sales and Marketing as Vice President of Automotive After-Market Industry traveling nationally and abroad.

He was a rare combination of someone who had a love of life, laughter and a firm understanding of what was important - the simplicity of enjoying life with the ones you love and “porch time” with God reading his daily devotionals while observing many of Gods creatures ranging from the love of watching all the birds that visited, to his crazy squirrels, to his pesky black birds which gave him much entertainment in his meticulous park-like landscaped gardens at his home in which he worked in right up til the end.

Of all the people he touched both willing and unwilling, his most proudest achievements in life were marrying the love of his life Carolyn Edwards of 48 years who supported him in all his glorious endeavors in his heyday, and lovingly supported him physically during their last days together alongside the crowning achievement with the birth of his two daughters, Shannon and Robin.

John is survived in legacy by his mother Jean, whom he cherish and loved deeply and called every night to check in since he left home and step-father “Tiny” whom was his “father” and became the most significant male figure in his life loving him unconditionally creating a bond to withstand time. John is also survived by his sister Janiece; his step-brother Wes; his wife Carolyn; his two daughters Shannon and Robin; his 3 grandchildren Kayla, Austin and Bryndon; his 2 step-grandsons Bailey and Phoenix; his 3 great-grandchildren Bentley, Abigail and Kolby; his 2 nieces Shelly and Lynsey; and his great-niece Weslyn.

“God saw him getting tired, and a cure was not to be, So He put His arms around him and whispered, Come to me. With tearful eyes we watched him suffer, and saw him slowly fade away. Although we loved him dearly, we could not make him stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard-working hands put to rest, God broke ours hearts to prove to us, He only takes the Best.”