Mrs. Violet Marie Ray, age 71 of Patrick Springs, passed away Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson, North Carolina.

She was born in Parrott, Virginia on February 11, 1938 to the late Floyd Jackson and Virgie V. Medley Sifford.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Ray was preceded in death by her husband, Donald L. Ray, five brothers, Lewis, Roy, Robert and Horace Sifford, and Floyd Sifford, Jr; and one sister, Myrtle Shortt.

She was a member of the Patrick Springs Pentecostal Holiness Church and had worked at Town and Country store.

Mrs. Ray is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Terry and Rhonda Ray of Stuart; one granddaughter, Hannah Elizabeth Ray; one brother, Clifford Sifford of Radford; four sisters, Gladys Cline of Delmar, Delaware, Ilene Patrick of Annandale, Virginia, Maleta Perdue of Pearisburg, Virginia and Linda Webb of Delmar, Delaware.

A graveside service for Mrs. Ray will be held Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Providence United Methodist Church Cemetery with Rev. Jack Foley and Rev. Trent Wall officiating. The family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Moody Funeral Home in Stuart until time to proceed to the cemetery. If desired, memorials may be made to the Patrick Springs Pentecostal Holiness Church, P.O. Box 55, Patrick Springs, Virginia 24133 or to Providence United Methodist Church, 1021 Providence Drive, Patrick Springs, Virginia 24133. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.moodyfuneralservices.com.

Martinsville Bulletin 2 July 2009