Donna Jean Ray, age 73, passed from this life and went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Sunday, August 30, 2015 after a courageous fifteen year battle with cancer.
Donna was born in Miami, Florida, the daughter of Harold Eugene and Margaret Helms. She graduated from Hialeah Senior High School. Married Ben Ray and helped him through the college years at the University of Miami. Ben’s career took her to Tampa, Florida, Atlanta, Georgia, Charlotte, North Carolina, Decatur, Illinois, and back to Atlanta. In Atlanta, she started her career with Architectural Digest and Bon Appe’tit magazines, associated with G. Carbonara and Company. She retired to become a devoted mother and grandmother.
Donna had three children; Steven Eugene Ray, Douglas Eugene Ray married to Tiffany, and Natalie Cowart married to Chris. She has 8 beautiful grandchildren; Tori, Stevie, Jessica, Merideth, Casey, Colby, EllaClaire, and Cayla. She also has 4 lovely great-grandchildren; Eliana, Gabriel, Cannon, and Kensley. Donna love Jesus and she has the assurance that all of her family will see her again in heaven.
Donna loved entertaining friends and family at home and on the lake. She loved to travel with her husband and was a member of the garden club and the knotty knitters. Donna also loved her big white english lab, Jackson. She was an active member of First Baptist Church and the Seekers Sunday School Class. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Ben Ray, Gainesville; her sister, Mildred Smith and Tom, Gainesville; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Nan and Bob Ledlow, Dothan, AL, Evelyn and John Pirhalla, Gainesville; ad many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Donna’s life will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, September 5, 2015 in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church on Green Street. The family will receive friends after the service on Saturday followed by food and fellowship.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made to the First Baptist Church Music Department 751 Green Street Gainesville, Georgia 30501.
Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel 989 Riverside Drive Gainesville, GA 30501. 770-297-6200 or for those who desire online condolences at www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.
