Mr. Ray Davis, age 71, of Sandersville passed away on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 in a Savannah-area hospital following an extended illness. A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held on Sunday, May 1 at 2:00 P.M. in the May and Smith Funeral Home Chapel with burial to follow in the Zeta Cemetery of Tennille. Reverend Bobby Williford will officiate. Pallbearers will be Eric Davis, Shane Davis, David Newsome, Dallas Randolph, Dylan Randolph, and Ben Wheeler. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 1:00 P.M. until the hour of service in the May and Smith Funeral Home.
Mr. Davis was the son of the late William Thomas “W.T.” Davis, Jr. and the late Sybil Hayes Davis. For most of his adult life, he was employed in the trucking industry as a driver, a job in which he found found great joy. Ray also enjoyed fishing, operating on vehicles, watching Western television programs, shopping for unique items, and riding motorcycles in his younger years. Mr. Davis was regarded as a wonderful father and friend, who found great delight to “cutup” with those he loved. In addition to his parents, Ray is preceded in death by his wife, Dale Lanthrip Davis; and brother, Troy Davis.
Ray is survived by his daughter, Ashley Taylor (James) of Sandersville; son, William Ray Bess of Lexington, North Carolina; grandsons, James Emory Taylor, III, Gary Lee Jump, and Alex McIntyre; brothers, Roy Davis of Sandersville and Cecil Davis (Penny) of Tennille; and many nieces and nephews.
Online condolences may be expressed at mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com.
May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.