Mildred Ray

Mildred Gilreath Ray, 94, of Horseshoe, NC passed away on May 30, 2021 at Universal Healthcare of Fletcher, NC.

A native of Henderson county, Mrs. Ray was born on August 26, 1926, at the old Patton Memorial Hospital in Hendersonville, NC. She was the daughter of Margaret Katherine Gilreath and William Henry Ladson. Mrs. Ray graduated from Mills River School and attended Montreat College where she majored in Christian Education. In 1990, Mrs. Ray retired from the U.S. Postal Service after working in several locations in Western North Carolina as a carrier, clerk and postmaster. An active member of Mills River Presbyterian Church for more than eighty years; she sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, served as secretary of the Diaconate, and held several positions with the Women of the Church.

Mrs. Ray was preceded in death by her parents, Margaret Gilreath and William Ladson; her husband, Walter Ray (Doug); her brothers, Jim Gilreath and Joe Gilreath; and her sister, Polly Gilreath Post.

The surviving family includes her daughter, Lynn Allison Smith (T. Lee); her son, Jim Ray (Darryl); five grandsons Brent Allison (Christen), Chris Allison, Ben Allison (Joni), Michael Ray (Jennifer), and Kevin Ray (Brooke), as well as her granddaughter, Cori Ray. She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren, Caroline, Sarah, Owen, Lucas, Caleb, Parker, Everly and Lakyn.

A memorial service will be held at 2pm on Friday, June 4, 2021 at Mills River Presbyterian Church with Merri Alexander officiating.

Memorials can be made to the Organ Fund at Mills River Presb. Church, 10 Presbyterian Church Rd, Mills River, NC 28759; or to Crossroads Corporation for Affordable Housing and Community Development, INC, 3623 Latrobe Dr., Suite 208, Charlotte, NC, 28211.