Heartfelt Thank-You!!!!!

Wow!!! I still can't believe Mom is no longer with us. As so many know, Mom transferred to her Heavenly home Monday May 2, 2011 at 10:33 p.m. She has had a real battle with so many health issues in the last couple of years of her life. Mom was a GREAT fighter, she fought right up to the very moment her Heavenly escort took her by her precious hand and gave her a first class flight to the portals of Glory.

Mom had been in and out of the hospital and rehabs for almost two years. Mom, trying so valiantly to help herself, not wanting to be a bother, fell and broke her right leg. Long story short, after a trip to the ER in Florence, back home and then being admitted into Marion County ended up in a Nursing Center. I received a call informing me that Mom was in route to a Florence Hospital due to a low blood count.

Thanks to the help of a good friend, Kim Jacobs, we were able to get Mom into a GREAT rehab facility in Florence. She did really well with her upper body work outs. I spoke with the head of rehab concerning Mom's lack of cooperation with her rehab involving walking. I assured the director that we would attempt to encourage Mom to try to work with the Therapist so she would be able to go back home.

We later came to understand that Mom's leg was broken. I feel so badly that I didn't believe Mom had a REAL problem causing her pain. I just thought that she was old and set in her ways. {Please forgive me, Momma!}

I was working in Manning on May 2nd with Buddy Caulder. I put my phone in the truck, being involved in a meeting with our new GF and Supervisor, I did not hear my phone ring. I felt like something was very wrong when I viewed my phone and found I had FIVE missed calls. I called my niece Erica and her cry confirmed my suspicion. She told me that I needed to get home NOW!!! Mom is not responding at all. I told everyone there that I had to get home ASAP!!! It was about 12:30p.m. I spoke with Billy on the phone and told him to tell Mom that her baby boy was on the way home, and to please HOLD ON!!!

I was on the road from Sarasota, Florida when my Dad transferred to Heaven and didn't want to have to live with that memory of missing my Momma too. I walked to the side of her bed where she laid laboring for every breath surrounded by her children and close friends. Mrs. Jane Williamson stood in the corner of the room with tears in her eyes while she prayed. {Thank you Mrs. Jane!} Everyone backed up and allowed me to take my place by her side.

I took her by her hand and kissed her on her cool face and whispered into her ear,"Your baby boy is here!" To every one's delight, she opened her eyes and winked her BABY BLUE eyes at me. Oh my!!!, even her blood pressure came up a few points. I would have given everything to see those pretty blue eyes. Thank you my Lord Jesus and Mom for holding on for me. {I LOVE YOU} Mark Hardee, who is like the son Cathy and I never had, was standing right beside me. I told him to come and speak to Momma. I backed up giving him room. He took her little hand and so tenderly whispered,"hey Nanny, it's Mark." Momma opened her eyes and mustered the strength to whisper,"Hello son". She laid back and labored for every breath again.

The room was electric!! Everyone was in tears. How long would this Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, friend and Godly Lady battle to hold on a little longer. The girls and I kept assuring Mom that Joe, Momma's eldest baby was on his way from California. Edward Hattaway, Momma's grandson kept encouraging us to sing for Momma. We sang a few songs lead by my bride, Cathy. We sang 'Amazing Grace'; Brenda and I sang harmony backing up everyone else that was present. Oh my! God sent an Angel to give Momma a glimpse of Glory!!! She raised up using all of the strength that her frail body could muster and opened her baby blue eyes looking around the room for her last time. I don't remember what time that was, but I do know that the Heavenly band of Angels came and whisked her away to Heaven at 10:33 p.m. Brenda was so lovingly cradling her head in her arms. Dale, Lou, Pat and Cathy along with all of her grands and great grands were on every side of the bed. The hall was filled to over capacity flowing even into the living room and every where that someone could possibly stand. I don't think another person could have squeezed into that space.

I will not EVER forget the feeling that I had and am sure we all did as Momma took her last breath on this side and bid us all fair well. Just for a moment, it felt as though all of the air had been expelled from the room. Then everyone realized she had made her trip safely to her Heavenly home. There was a moment of disbelief, a pause and then we all cried. The separation hit us all at the same time. Oh my!

The Hospice nurse, I think her name is Joyce could hardly contain herself. She had to excuse herself, saying as she departed the room, "I've never seen anything like this in all of the years of my practice".

Brenda continued holding Momma's head in her hands for a while. People departed one by one, leaving the family with the 83 year old house of clay. We all stayed around the bed of our dear sainted mother. I guess it was about 12:30 a.m. before Roosevelt from Cox-Collins came to take her body away. I asked all of the family to step out onto the side porch as Roosevelt took momma out to the car. I stood at the door and watched as the door was closed and the light dimmed to black. They drove away as I stood and watched as long as I could.

The wake was held on Thursday night, May 5th, at the Mullins-Marion Free Will Baptist Church. So many friends and family took the time to pay their respects to Mrs. Hazel Ray and her children. The coffin (hope chest) was so pretty. It was white trimmed in pink. Momma was dressed in a baby blue dress, emulating her baby blue eyes, trimmed in black. She was so pretty, her countenance beamed with all of Christ's Glory.

Momma's life celebration was held at the Mullins-Marion Free Will Baptist Church on Friday May 6th at 4:00 p.m. The service was officiated by four Ministers, Brother Neil Hinson, Brother Thad Jacobs, Brother Tony Miles and Brother Bobby Byrd. Thank you all for all of the kind words and great scripture that reflected her life. Kevin Hardee sang, 'I'm A Winner Either Way" awesome job Kevin, your Nanny was always so proud of you. "Hello Momma", that I have sung for Momma so many times over the years had to to be played with me singing via CD. I don't think I would have made it through it. Brenda had a CD recording of "Amazing Grace", bagpipes rendering that was so beautiful.

Momma's old clay was laid to rest beside her soul mate, James D. Ray, our daddy at Red Hill Cemetery. Brother Neil and Brother Thad gave the last Words and Prayer. We all sang "Amazing Grace" one last time. "It's not good-by but only good night, Momma. I'll see you again in the morning. Your baby boy, Dean.

Thank you Shephard's Care (Hospice) Dr. James Carroll, and all of the staff, (Virgina) for ALL that you guys did for Momma and the Ray Family. Cox-Collins, Don Collins and ALL of your staff for the comfort and care that you gave to Momma and all of us.

A very special Thank You to the Mullins-Marion Free Will Baptist Church for all of the support and loving care that you all afforded to our family. Words are sooooo inadequate to express our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for all of the visits, food, prayers and LOVE that you showed to all of us.

A very, very SPECIAL THANK YOU goes to Erica Cook. She is one of Momma's grand daughters. She just lost Stevie, her husband, just about two weeks before. Erica stayed with Momma during the day and took awesome care of momma. The girls stayed with Momma at night and then worked the next day. Wow!!! Thank you girls for taking such great care of our Momma. I stayed with her one night this last time and I am so thankful for that night that I was able to spend with and care for my Momma.

I sure do miss you Momma. I know I have missed thanking someone, for that I am soo sorry. I love all that helped make this as painless as possible.

Always in Christ,

Momma's Baby Boy

Dean