Rayford Ray Hanford, Jr.

HENDERSON- Rayford Ray Hanford, Jr., 82, of Henderson passed away Sunday, September 3, 2023 at Duke Raleigh Hospital. Born January 28, 1941 in Henderson, he was the son of the late Rayford Hanford Sr. and Idell Grissom Hanford Abbott. Known to his friends as Jabo or just Jie, Ray attended Zeb Vance High School before working for Roses in Henderson for ten years in the late 1950s to 1960s. He and his wife, Leona, then moved to Georgia, where they raised two sons. After 27 years in Georgia, he moved back to his "home" in Henderson in 1997 and worked at MR Williams until retiring in 2007. During those years, he could often be found enjoying the company of friends at the Moose lodge. Ray attended Blessed Hope Baptist Church, where he found happiness in learning to know his Savior, and looked forward all week to seeing his pastor and friends at Sunday morning service. He enjoyed going to restaurants several times a week with life-long friends, working through his large-print wordfind books, and watching TV at an extremely loud volume because he disliked wearing his hearing aids. Funeral services will be held Thursday, September 7, 2023 at 3:00 P.M. at Blessed Hope Baptist Church by Dr. Donnie Perkinson. Burial will follow in Fuller Chapel Christian Church Cemetery. Ray is survived by his son, Greg Hanford and spouse Brooke, of Rolesville; four granddaughters, Raylyn and Jessica Nicole "Nikki" Hanford, and Katie and Sarah Hanford; niece Linda Griffin and grandnephew David Griffin, all of whom he loved. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of twenty-eight years, Leona Rawlings Hanford, his son Vernon Rawlings Hanford, and his sister Sally Faye Hanford Waddell. The family will receive friends prior to the service on Thursday beginning at 2:00 P.M. at Blessed Hope Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Blessed Hope Baptist Church, 741 Dabney Rd, Henderson NC 27537.