With deep sorrow and great love, we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved Audrey Ginter Ray on October 25, 2024. She was 85 years old and was lovingly surrounded by her family at home after a long battle with ovarian cancer. Audrey was born on February 26, 1939, in Hinesville, Georgia to Fred and Hattie Ginter.
Audrey is survived by her two daughters, Hollyce Davenport and her husband Glenn and Phyllis Davis and her husband Terry; her brother Gene Ginter and his wife Clara; her grandson Blake Davenport and his children Sarah Katherine, Grayson, Lainey, and Davis Davenport; and her granddaughter Brooke McGee, her husband Nathan, and their children Annalyse, Lucy, and Charlotte McGee. Audrey is also survived by many wonderful nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Donald Ray, their infant son Donald Ray, Jr., her sister Maytrude Ginter Anderson, and her brothers Billy Ginter and George Ginter.
Audrey graduated from Bradwell Institute in Hinesville, Georgia and then attended business school in Savannah. After graduating from business school, she worked in the offices of the U.S. Army Base at Fort Stewart in Hinesville. Working at the base was Audrey’s way of honoring her many family members who had served in the armed forces. In her free time, she visited soldiers in the hospital as an extended act of service.
While working at Fort Stewart, Audrey met and married Donald Ray, a soldier from Henderson, Tennessee. They later moved to West Palm Beach, Florida after his military service. Eventually, the family moved back to Donald’s hometown of Henderson.
Audrey spent most of her adult life in Henderson and worked as Executive Assistant to the Plant Manager of the local ITT Grinnell Corporation facility for over 40 years. She was a constant source of dependability and stability within the company throughout the years. Even while working full-time, she was always a devoted wife and mother who enjoyed cooking and baking for her family.
To be closer to both of their daughters, Audrey and Donald moved to Hayesville, North Carolina in 2000. Donald passed away in 2002, and later Audrey moved to Alpharetta, Georgia. Her final move to Huntsville, Alabama allowed her to spend even more time with her daughters and extended family.
She treasured spending time with family and friends. She kept in close contact with everyone by sending a note, but she especially loved to stay in touch by phone. Audrey’s personality always drew people toward her. She never met a stranger. Audrey was very loving, and many thought of her as a second mother.
She was an avid card player who was always up for a game, no matter how she felt. She was determined to fight cancer and never let it get in her way. She mentioned many times that she was very grateful and blessed for the additional two and half years she had after her diagnosis. Throughout all challenges, Audrey remained optimistic and never lost her sense of humor.
She was a member of Mount Pisgah Methodist Church in Alpharetta, where she enjoyed her Sunday School class, participated in the Walk to Emmaus pilgrimage, and enjoyed Bible Study Fellowship.
Audrey was a huge fan of Snoopy and loved all his quotes including “Keep looking up… that’s the secret of life.”
Audrey’s family would like to extend a very special thank you to Dr. Tyler Kirby, his staff, and the entire chemotherapy team at Tennessee Valley Gynecologic Oncology in Huntsville, Alabama. They all provided her with loving and attentive care throughout her intensive treatment.
Audrey’s celebration of life will be November 9 at 1:00pm at The Carr Funeral Home, 1960 Obrig Avenue, Guntersville, AL. The service will be officiated by longtime Glenn Harris. Her ashes will be carried to Richmond Hill, Georgia where another celebration will be held with her family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance or to Samaritan’s Purse in memory of Audrey Ginter Ray.
