Ray Childress

Ray Childress

Donald ‘Ray’ Childress passed away Friday March 24, 2023 at Baptist Hospital in Oxford at the age of 79. He was born September 7, 1943 in Empire, AL to the late Marie Childers Childress and Eugene Otis Childress. He was a United States Veteran, serving in the United States Marine Corp. He retired from Yates Construction, Vice President, Division Manager, Memphis, TN office. He truly cherished his time with the Yates family and all the wonderful people of Yates. He was a proud Mason and a member of the First United Methodist Church. He served as a rotating Sunday School teacher for The Friendly Fellowship Class at First United Methodist Church in West Point and before that The Young Couples Class at First United Methodist Church in Hickory, MS.

A Graveside Service will be held at 2 PM Sunday March 26, 2023 at Greenwood Cemetery with Rev. Jeff Shannon officiating. Serving as pallbearers will be Sam Burks, Brad Burks, Jonathan Childress, Christopher Childress, Greg Hollingsworth, Spencer Lipscomb, John Carver Middleton, Jonathan Woodson. Honorary pallbearers are Bill Yates, William Yates, Tommy Henley, Jimmy Littlefield, Leonard Dichiara, Michael East.

He is survived by his wife, Helen Childress of Oxford; son, Donald Eugene ‘Gene’ Childress (Wendy) of West Point; daughter, Tiffany East (Michael) of Oxford; brother, Paul Childress (Diane); sister-in-law, Rose Marie Childress; 6 grandchildren, Ashton Woodson (Jonathan), Madison Childress, Anna Kathryn Middleton (John Carver), Julia Rae East, Ava East, Michael Ann East; 2 great grandchildren, Addison Woodson, Drew Woodson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter, Julia Ann Childress; and a brother, Wayne Childress.

Memorials can be made to American Cancer Society or Tunnel to Towers Foundation.