Eddie gained his angel wings Saturday evening February 17, 2024 at his residence in Greenwood. He was born April 30, 1946 in Greenwood to Edward W. Ray and Robbie Carver Ray.  He grew up and attended Greenwood schools where he graduated Greenwood High School in 1964. He then attended Mississippi Delta Jr. College in Moorhead and then Delta State University where he majored in Business and Accounting.

He lived in Grenada where he was the owner of Quality Cleaners and also served as city manager. He later returned home to Greenwood where he was the office manager for the Greenwood Commonwealth until his retirement. When asked how long he worked for the Commonwealth he would say "since the third grade". He worked there through school and most of college.

He served as a member of the Mississippi National Guard and later the Army Reserve. Eddie was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. He was a gentle and quiet man with a loving heart. He loved his friends, his family and especially his grandchildren.  He later married his childhood friend Evelyn Christopher.  Together they packed a lot of love and adventure into his last years. If it was Thursday, you would always find them at the Alluvian for happy hour where they enjoyed listening and dancing to the music. He enjoyed meeting up with old and new friends and he would especially enjoy meeting the guests from all over the country that had come to visit the Delta. He was a wonderful ambassador for the City of Greenwood.

Eddie was an avid reader and could be found on his patio or in his favorite chair with a book in his hand.  One of his favorite past times was caring for and just watching all the cats in the neighborhood.  Regardless of the weather, he was always ready to throw a steak on the grill, grab a beer and listen to some Louie Armstrong on the patio which would always end with a few dances with Evelyn. They loved entertaining friends with a good fire in the pit and just enjoying friendships and family.

He will be truly missed not just by his family but by all those that knew him.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Debra Ray and sister and brother-in-law, Becky Ray Kunz and Lester Kunz.

He is survived by his wife Evelyn Christopher Ray, son, Marty Ray of Grenada; brother, Ron Ray(Helen) of Gustine, TX; four step-children, Amy Ries(Derick) of Rocklin, CA, Richard Ashley of California, Barrett Johnson(Angie) of Berlin, NH and Morgan Rushofsky(Paul) of Boerne, TX; twelve grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Greenwood.  Interment will follow in the Woodlawn Memorial Park in Grenada.  The family will receive friends from noon until service time Wednesday at the church.

Pallbearers will be Richard Avant, Brant Godbold, Charles McCoy, Ron McRee, Kent Savage and Steve Webb.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or to Delta Streets Academy in Greenwood.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to Grace Hospice for their care and to Josh Wheeler and Janet Blaylock.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.mckibbenandguinn.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada, (662-307-2694).