Ruth Elizabeth "Granny" Ray

Ruth Elizabeth "Granny" Ray, 94, of Morganton, NC died Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at her residence following a period of declining health. She was born November 24, 1913 in Yancey Co., NC, and was a daughter of the late Melvin "Doc" Styles and Mary Hensley Styles. Ruth was a member of Riverside Baptist Church. She was a former employee of Broughton Hospital and a retired employee of Burke County Schools. Ruth was a loving mother and grandmother, and was known as "Granny Ray" by family and friends alike.Ruth is survived by sons, Robert Ray of Morganton, and Larry Ray and wife, Jodi, of Blacksburg, SC; daughters, Nola Pritchard and Wilma Smith, both of Morganton, and Thelma Bright and husband, Ernest, of New Bern, NC; 13 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren.In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd Ray; a daughter, Lorena Moses; brothers, Warner "Buck" Styles and Erby Styles; sisters, Maye McMahan, Viola Smith, and Eula Ray; 1 great-grandbaby and 1 great-great grandbaby.Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, May 23, 2008 at Riverside Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Raymond Rowland officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home where the body will remain until placed in the church thirty minutes before the funeral hour. At other times, the family will be at the residence, 4586 Burkemont Rd. Memorial contributions may be made to Riverside Baptist Church, 516 NC 126, Morganton, NC 28655 or to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690.