Hancock County GaArchives Cemeteries.....Ray Family Cemetery ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: "willray" Ray Family Cemetery, Hancock County, Georgia April 2001 NOTE: Square Brackets [] indicate information and understood relationships added by W. G. Ray, March 31, 2002 and September 19, 2002. Quotation marks (“ ”) after names and dates are additional inscriptions on the stones. Largely covered over by very large American boxwoods are the Speights graves; the two oldest marked stones in the cemetery. They are both white marble slabs on built up brick crypts, unlike the low granite and mottled gray marble stones used on the newer graves: Illegible [John Speights] October 23, 1806 January 16, 1864 Carvings badly eroded Araminta Speights[sic] March 16, 1809 or 1800 October 28, 1867 (Probably 1809) [These are parents of Louiza A. Ray.] Both stones have more inscriptions which are now illegible. Beside them are: Eunice McRae Ray Sept. 14, 1894 Jan. 27, 1981 “Wife of A[ndrew]. L. Ray Mother of James A. Ray” To her left: James A. Ray U. S. Marine Corps Oct. 15, 1924 Mar. 11, 1945 “Killed in battle on Iwo Jima“ Head stone has the Stars and Stripes in top left corner, and paratroopers insignia on top right. Foot stone with Christian Cross; inscribed “James Andrew Ray, Georgia, PFC, 27th Regt., U.S. Marine Corps, 5th Division, World War II,” and repeats the birth and death dates. To his left: James Morgan Ray January 24, 1895 December 13, 1918 “Many fond hopes lie buried here” To his left: W. A. Robson July 12, 1817 April [illegible] [17, 1866?] [Father-in-law, I believe to Sarah (Sallie) Ray Robson, also buried here.] “Farewell oh husband dear farewell Thou hast left me lonely in this world of pain Oh may we meet in heavenly bliss To dwell at God’s right hand See below No more to part again” Then there is a very nice raised grave with no visible marking. That is the end of the first row. Behind that in the second row: Cecil Eldredge Ray [My father] July 25, 1907 Jan. 31, 1973 “Son of Willie Joe & Mabel Hitchcock Ray” [My paternal Grandparents] To his right: Willie Claire Ray Apr. 26, 1906 “Son” [Willie Joe and Mabel Claire Hitchcock Ray’s first child, who died in childbirth.] To his right: W. A. Robson July 12, 1817 April [illegible] [17, 1866?] [Father-in-law, I believe to Sarah (Sallie) Ray Robson, also buried here.] “Farewell oh husband dear farewell Thou hast left me lonely in this world of pain Oh may we meet in heavenly bliss To dwell at God’s right hand No more to part again” Mrs. Sallie Robson Born June 25, 1851 Died Jan. 22, 1887 [This is, I believe, Sarah Ray, sister to William D. Ray. She married a man named Penn Robson. W. A. Robson, also buried here was his father I suppose.] “A precious one from us has gone A voice we loved is stilled A place is vacant in our hearts Which never can be filled God in his wisdom has recalled The boon his lover has given And though the body molders here The soul is safe in heaven” To her right are three large stones: Robert L. Ray [M.D.] July 5, 1865 Jan. 26, 1916 [Cecil E. Ray’s great-uncle and father to Louis, Andrew, George, and James M. Ray] “Oh how meek, generous, and true He bore his trials and pleasures through” Katie G. Harrison Ray May 18, 1872 September 11, 1934 [Wife of Robert L. Ray.] “A tender mother and faithful friend” Louis Mathis Ray Born Feb. 15, 1904 Died Dec. 11, 1983 [My father’s “Cousin Louis.” Never married.] “Son of Dr. R. L. and Katie H. Ray” That is the end of the second row. On the third row: Andrew L. Ray Born Dec. 3, 1891 Died May 23, 1973 [My father’s “Cousin Andrew.” Married to Eunice M. Ray and father of James L. Ray.] “Son of Dr. R. L. and Katie H. Ray” To his left: Louiza A[raminta?]. [Speight] Ray Born Oct. 27, 1829 Died Jan. 2, 1911 [Wife of Andrew J. Ray below. Family nickname “Ludie.” Mother of John A., William D., Sarah A., and Robert L. Ray. She made the quilt that my oldest sister, Mabel Louise Ray Davis, now owns.] “You are not dead to us But as a bright star unseen Absent only the body And present with the Lord” [parts of the inscription are difficult to read and unclear] Andrew J. Ray Born Sept. 10, 1816 Died Nov. 5, 1896 [My Great, Great Grandfather. The founder of our branch of the Ray Family in Hancock County, as far as I know. Appears in the 1850 Census in Hancock County at age 33.] “He followed in true As his truest [you do] [guide?] Lived as a Christian As a Christian died” William D[elorin]. Ray Feb. 10, 1858 Apr. 25, 1927 [Son of Andrew and Louiza Ray. My Great Grandfather and father to Willie Joe Ray. Family nickname “Spurge” or “Spud.” His wife was Susan (Miss Susie) Gary of Wadley, Jefferson County who is buried there according to her death certificate. Her family nickname was “Mur” or “Mer,” a phonetic corruption of grandmother, coined I am told by my father.] Willie Joe Ray January 24, 1887 September 21, 1931 “Husband” [to Mabel C. Ray.] [My Grandfather. Family nickname, “Boots.”] Mabel C[laire]. [Hitchcock] Ray Dec. 7, 1884 Sept. 24, 1970 [My Grandmother. “Granny.” Wife of Willie Joe Ray and mother in chronological order to Willie Claire Ray, Cecil Eldredge Ray, Sarah Ray Hunnicutt, Claire Ray Hayes and Ralph Hitchcock Ray.] Large vertical stone with “Ray” carved at the center top, and George D. (left) Sept. 12, 1890 Feb. 24, 1969 [Son of Robert L. Ray. Father of George Jr., Allan and Bob Ray who now own the farm and graveyard.] Maye M. (right) Jan. 13, 1898 Mar. 5, 1994 [George D. Ray’s wife.] * * * * * * * * * * In the corner of cemetery farthest from gate, a group of stones that read: William Thomas Parker 8-30-1857 5-5-1933 Georgia Parker 10-3-1920 6-12-1924 Floyd Parker Oct. 27, 1934 Jan. 7, 1937 Dorothy Mae Parker Feb. 9, 1936 Jan. 14, 1937 Unmarked Infant? Louiza Miller Parker 3- 29-1867 6-24-1966 Joseph F. Parker Oct. 2, 1901 May 2, 1970 The above are by themselves in the back corner of the cemetery. * * * * * * * * * * In the separate fenced area inside the main fenced cemetery are: A small low crypt or mausoleum of granite slabs, large enough for 4-5 graves, but with no markings on it. (Aunt Sara says they were there all of her life. She said that these are white people, and there were no slaves inside the fence. She thinks they are Speight’s or perhaps people who lived around there and didn’t have anywhere else to be buried. The Parkers farmed for Louis Ray and were allowed to bury there. A. J. Parker still lives the area.) Infant Boy [No known relation] “Asleep in Jesus” Robert Lee Terry Sept. 22, 1908 Oct. 22, 1908 [No known relation] “Asleep in Jesus” Other graves with no visible inscriptions. Estimate 9-10 people buried in this fenced area. * * * * * * * * * * Outside of the fenced in cemetery, and behind it - under some very large trees - are numerous graves, mostly unmarked and referred to as slave graves. I walked back there with the caretaker and saw three uninscribed stone markers. [There was another marker of poured concrete with a name and 20th Century date scratched into the wet cement.] This area has been burned off to clear it. This cemetery is well maintained. Mowed and trimmed, not overgrown. Caretakers are Terry and Brenda Morgan of Milledgeville.