Funeral services for Mr. Calvin O’Neal Ray were held on Monday, Jan. 9, 2017 at noon. Rev. Jeff Abner, Pastor. Rev. Mark Hawkins served as officiating minister. Burial followed in the churchyard cemetery. Hudson Funeral Services of Greenville, Ala, directed.

Calvin Neal Ray was born to the late Mr. Julius and Mrs. Igenetta Ray on Oct. 8, 1962  in Forest Home, Ala.

Earlier in life he attended Pleasant Hill AME Zion Church.

Calvin was preceded in death by his parents; paternal grandparents, Mr. Lerk and Mrs. Liller Ray; maternal grandparents, Mr. Tee Darby Sr. and Mrs. Susie Thomas; grandfather, Mr. Henry Thomas; sister, Mrs. Lillie Stromer; three nephews, a niece, four uncles and a aunt.

Calvin was an avid lover of horses; if there were horses around, that‘s where you would find him. Calvin had an understanding of horses that was very hard for many people to fathom, but somehow the horses understood him when he came around them.

He leaves to cherish his memories two loving daughters, Ms. Shambria Ray, Panama City, Fla., and Miss Bre’Anna Rhodes, Montgomery, Ala.; two very intelligent grandsons, Master Jaydon Middleton and Master Dalmari Betsy; a beautiful granddaughter, Miss J’Miyah Middleton, all of Panama City, Fla.; three sisters, Evangelist Patricia Towns, Montgomery, Ala., Evangelist Brenda Darby and Mrs. Linda McCall both of Greenville, Ala.; a special “brother,” Mr. George (Evangelist Lora) McCall, Calhoun, Ala.; two uncles, Mr. Tee Darby Jr., Minter, Ala.; and Mrs. Henry Lee Thomas, Greenville, Ala.; three aunts, Mrs. Annie C. May, Birmingham, Ala., Ms. Susie

Lee Thomas and Mrs. Janice B. Thomas, both of Greenville, Ala.;  a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, other relative and friends.