Ray Willard Weathersby

1945 - 2017

Ray Willard Weathersby

Jackson, MS

Ray Willard Weathersby, the son of Clarence and Lorela Weathersby was born June 1, 1945 in Weathersby, MS. His early education began at Zion Hill School, a one room school house in Magee, MS. He continued on to Consolidated High School until the 11th grade where he was a star quarterback for the Magee Tigers. His senior year, Ray attended Evanston Township High School in Evanston, IL, where he played the trumpet in the band. He graduated from Evanston Township High School in 1963. He received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Hampton University in Hampton, Va. He was an exchange student to Istanbul, Turkey and in the summer of 1967, he attended Washington University's Minority Business Conference. Ray was a trailblazer. He was a member of the inaugural class, one of six African-American men chosen to be a part of the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management at Indiana University. He acquired an MBA from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN.

His proudest career accomplishment was that he passed the Illinois Administrative National CPA exam. He honorably served in the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant from 1969-1971. He had an unwavering passion for history and education. He enjoyed fishing and hunting small game (squirrels, rabbits, etc).



Ray is survived by his son Ray William Weathersby (married to Tracee Weathersby), daughters Christina Marie (Weathersby) Ball (married to Edward Ball IV), Lori Anne (Weathersby) Moore (married to Eddie Moore), Deanna Lee Ruff, and Tamara Rae Weathersby, grandchildren Lauren Marie, Michael Ray, Edward Lewis, Jordan Marie, Eddie Gabriel, Christina Marie, Antonio Mishawn, Marvin Dwayne, Diego Ray, two siblings Ella Weise Batchelor and Emma Smith, sister-in-law Caroline Weathersby, and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Viewing will be held at 10:00am Wednesday April 12, 2017 at Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church, 374 Zion Hill Rd., Mendenhall, MS 39114. Service will follow at 12:00pm.