Ann Ray

Ann Ray Cookeville Anna Love Powell Ray, age 92 of Cookeville, passed away suddenly Thursday afternoon June 11, 2020 at her home. Mrs. Ray was born Sunday October 16, 1927 in White County, TN to the late Dock and Kate Dunn Powell. Ann was the daughter of a coal miner and was raised on Bon Air Mountain. She graduated from White County High School in 1946. She met Jesse Ray Sr. on May 1, 1946; they married on September 21, 1946. Jesse died August 31, 2009. Ann and Jesse worked with original owner John Ray and later owned and operated Ray's Grocery on South Jefferson Avenue. They worked together at the grocery for more than 40 years. After the grocery store closed, Ann worked in sales at J.C. Penney until she retired. She was a member of Stevens Street Baptist Church and attended the Ladies Fellowship Class. She always had a cake to take to church whenever needed. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren always looked forward to her mac and cheese and deviled eggs. She is survived by sons, Allen (Susan) Ray, Gary (Anita) Ray all of Cookeville; daughters, Susan Ray (Lee) Chaffin of Smyrna, Sara Ray (Kerry) Pharris of Cookeville; grandchildren, Alicia Ray (Jonathan) Sheumaker of Cookeville, Eric (Laura) Ray of Fort Collins, CO, Amy Ray (Harry) Ford of Cookeville, Stacy Chaffin (Dr. Becky Riggs) of Columbia, MD, Adam (Sheri) Pharris of Cookeville; great-grandchildren, Samuel, Elsie, Annabel, Lucy, and Micah Sheumaker; Daniel, Henry, Charlotte Ray; Carden Riggs; Preston, Millie and Betsy Pharris; twin sister, Billie Powell Bohannon of Sparta; sister, Ruth Powell (Howell) Glover of Johnson City; brother-in-law, Virgil Bullington of Knoxville; and sisters-in-law, Shirley Ray (Owen) Plank of Waterville, OH, and Evelyn Ray Stewart of Blue Springs, MO. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by siblings, Elsie Powell Rackley, Elmer Powell, Elizabeth Powell Sapp, Barnett Powell, Sr., Paul Powell, Juanita Powell Austin, Ruth Ophellea Powell, Jim Powell and Rufus Carol Powell; sister-in-law, Audrey Ray Bullington; and brothers-in-law, R.E. Bohanon and John Stewart. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday June 14 at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home. Pastor Adam Pharris will officiate. Friends are invited to come by the funeral home to sign the guest book and pay their respects on Sunday from 1 p.m. until the time of service. Due to Covid-19 precautions, social distance measures will be observed. Interment will be at Phillips Cemetery. Grandchildren, nieces and nephews will serve as pallbearers. Memorial contributions may be made to Stevens Street Baptist Church Building Fund, 327 W. Stevens Street, Cookeville, TN 38501. Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (931)526-6111 Share your thoughts and memories at www.hhhfunerals.com.