Mrs. Billie Welch Raley, age 87 of Sandersville passed away on Friday, April 18, 2025, at the Washington County Extended Care Facility. A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held on Tuesday, April 22 at 11:00 a.m. in the First Baptist Church of Sandersville. Burial will follow in the Brownwood Cemetery. Reverend Lee Lacey will officiate. Pallbearers will be Wynn Raley, Graham Raley, Keith Lewis, Reid Chandler, Taylor Veal, and Paul Gorial. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, April 22 from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of service at the First Baptist Church.
Mrs. Raley was a lifelong resident of Washington County, born in Davisboro to the late Wills E. Welch and the late Inez Cowart Welch. She was well-known and regarded for her service as Chief Tax Assessor and Appraiser for Washington County. Billie was an accomplished seamstress, artist, superb cook, avid reader, and lover of music, especially classicals and hymns. Mrs. Raley enjoyed antiquing, playing piano, and rooting for the Georgia Bulldogs after being “converted” from a Georgia Tech fan. She found her greatest joy in time spent with family, especially her grandchildren. Billie was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and a member of her beloved First Baptist Church of Sandersville. She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Elton Vernon Raley, and sister, Alice Hanby.
Survivors include her children, Marilyn Mesler and husband Gary of Fallbrook, California, Roseanne Chambers and husband Jimmy of Sandersville, Benjamin Raley and wife Carol of Sandersville, and Frank Raley and wife Whitney of Davisboro; grandchildren, Stacy Mesler, Wynn Raley, Brittany Chandler, Graham Raley, Chelsey Lewis, Kara Veal, Anna Grace Raley, and Leah Gorial; and great-grandchildren, Fowler Lewis, Carter Veal, Ella Kate Raley, Hudson Lewis, Brooks Raley, Cannon Raley, and Violet Gorial.
The family may be contacted at the home of Ben and Carol Raley on Mayview Road in Sandersville.
Online condolences may be expressed at mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com.
May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.