Ellen E. Raby Ray, 88, of Franklin, passed away Thursday, January 14, 2010.

Born in Macon Co, she was the daughter of the late Charles D. Raby and Ella Victoria Reeves Raby. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William Howard Ray. Ellen loved gardening, flowers and enjoyed reading. She had a great love for children, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a member of Burningtown Baptist Church and was a Sunday school teacher.

She is survived by three children, Victoria Ray Cribb and husband Luther of Douglasville, GA, Karen Ray Crawford and husband Lonnie of Franklin and Newton H. Ray and wife Jeana of Sylva; two sisters, Grace Maxwell of Danville, VA and Thelma Welch of Kingsport, TN; half sister, Kathy James of Naples, FL; six grandchildren; eleven great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, January 17, 2010 in the Chapel of Macon Funeral Home. Rev. Judson Hall, Dr. Bryan Cribb, Rev. John Raby and Rev. Randy Drinnon will officiate. Burial will be in the Burningtown Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 1:30-3:00 prior to the service at the funeral home.

Stephen Crawford, Derrick Cribb, John Bueck, Dale Littrell, Tim Raby, Henry Rowland, Bill Queen and Bert Raby will serve as Pallbearers.

Nephews will serve as Honorary Pallbearers.

Memorial donations can be made to the Baptist Children’s Homes of NC, P.O. Box 338, Thomasville, NC 27361-0338.

Macon Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

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