Weaverville – July 10, 1937 – September 25, 2021
Annie Geraldine (Coone) Ray, 84, of Weaverville, NC, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 25, 2021, surrounded by love and loving care. She was preceded in death by her father Howard G. Coone, her mother, Odessa Whitesides Coone, and her friend and husband of 60 years, Mr. John Troy (J.T.) Ray, also of Weaverville. She is survived by her children; Howard Ray (Lori) of Rock Hill, SC; Hilton Ray (Julie) of Charlotte, NC; Reggie Ray of Weaverville, and Dottie Ray Hawthorne (Maurice) of Weaverville; seven grandchildren; sisters, brothers, nephews and nieces in and around Washington, DC, and a host of people raised in Weaverville who knew her as Mrs. Ray, Granny, Mama Ray, or just plain Mama.
Born in Weaverville and raised on a farm on Haw Branch in Barnardsville, NC, she attended Stephens-Lee High School in Asheville. A resident of Weaverville for or 60 years, she was a life-long member of Little Mt. Zion Baptist church, served as secretary, and was recently designated as Mother of the Church.
Geraldine loved to sew, crochet, knit, and watch soap operas. She was an amateur historian with encyclopedic knowledge of family histories. She never let a child leave the yard until that child had been loved, fed, or if necessary, spanked.
Because of health concerns, there will not be a memorial service. However, there will be a Drop-in Time for family and friends from 1:00 to 2:30pm on Saturday, October 2nd, at the Hillside Street Community Center.
The family would like to thank the Solace Hospice facility in Biltmore, NC for the caring work they do and for the excellent care they gave our mother as she moved to heaven.