Ag News
Former State Rep. Robert Ray dies
Posted on May 30, 2018 at 0:00 AM
Robert Ray, who served for 24 years in the Georgia General Assembly, died on May 29.
Ray received the GFB Commodity Award in 2004 in recognition of his many contributions to Georgia agriculture. He served as chairman of the Georgia House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs committee.
First elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1982, Ray’s district included Crawford County and parts of Bibb, Peach and Houston counties. In addition to serving as chairman of the agriculture committee, Ray was a member of the Appropriations and Rules Committee. Prior to chairing the agriculture committee, Ray served as chairman of the House Journals Committee. Ray managed the Georgia Farmers’ Market in Macon from 1971 to 1973 and served as assistant commissioner of agriculture from 1973 to 1978.
Ray has been a lifetime farmer in Crawford and Peach counties and was a member of the Crawford County Farm Bureau.
A member of Fort Valley First Baptist Church, Ray is survived by his wife, Jennifer Pike Ray; his brother, Dr. James Ray (Mary); his children, Lisa Grovenstein (John) of Lilburn, Robin Ray of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Bob (Karen) Ray of Perry, and Adam (Leah) Ray of Lexington, Kentucky; their mother, Jean Hortman Ray; six grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Ray’s funeral service will be held at First Baptist Church on June 1 at 11 a.m. A private burial will be held at the family cemetery. In lieu of flowers and in support of the future of agriculture in Georgia, donations can be made to Georgia FFA Foundation, P.O. Box 237 Swainsboro, GA 30401 or by giving online at www.georgiaffa.org/foundation/ or donations can be made to the First Baptist Church of Fort Valley designated to the “Better Together” Fund.
- Categories:
- Tags: