Samuel Aaron Ray

Samuel Aaron Ray, age, 72, of Trussville, AL went home to be with the Lord Thursday, July 8, 2021. The family will receive friends at Deerfoot Memorial Funeral Home Monday, July 12, 2021 from 5:00PM- 7:00PM. The Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, July 13, 2021 at 11:30AM at Grantswood Baptist Church in Irondale, AL. The Graveside Service will follow at 2:00PM at Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, AL. Mr. Ray is survived by his loving wife, Brenda Boyett Ray; son, Jonathan Parker Ray (Emily); daughter, Meleah Ray Yates (Stephen); stepdaughter, Haley Waites Blanco (Jorge Blanco) Children; Lola and Kate Webb, Jorge and Anna Blanco, Lana Brooke Waites, Jennifer Lucy Waites; grandchildren, Bryleigh Ray, Caleb Busby, Sadee Busby, Tyler Yates, Carter Yates, Lola Webb, Kate Webb, Jorge Blanco, Anna Blanco, Lana Brooke Waites, Jennifer Lucy Waites; brother, Charlie Ray (Donna Ray); and sister, Donna Ray Cockrell. He is preceded in death by his parents Mary Evelyn Hays Ray Russell and Samuel Jethro Ray; and brother in law, Jim Cockrell. Mr. Ray Graduated from Tarrant High School in 1967; later in life Aaron served as a Military Policeman in the military until he responded to the call to the ministry and attended William Carey University in Hattiesburg, MS and graduated in 1974. He then received a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Ministry from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans, LA. He pastored at Riverside Baptist Mission in Monticello, Mississippi, and then Sweet Water Baptist Church in Sweet Water, AL until 1979. He then returned to the military and served as a Chaplain in the Air Force. He served in Vietnam and in Desert Storm. He retired in 1995 after over 20 years of service. After his military career he pastored at Central Baptist Church in Tarrant, served as a Hospice Chaplain and finished his career as a Chaplain at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, AL. He has always described his life's service as ushering planes in during his Air Force days to ushering souls into Heaven in his Chaplin days. He enjoyed traveling, watching his grandsons play baseball, spending time with family, and being Santa during the Christmas season. He was a member of Grantswood Baptist Church in Irondale, AL and lived in Trussville, AL. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of the following organizations in honor of Aaron Ray to Heifer International or Wounded Warriors

Samuel Aaron Ray

October 18, 1948 - July 8, 2021