Dennis Ray Perkins

Dennis Ray Perkins, age 70, of Woodstock, Alabama went to his eternal home on July 8, 2025 at St. Vincent’s East in Birmingham, Alabama.

Ray was born in Demopolis, AL on March 1, 1955 to J.D. (Buddy) and Lillie Nichols Perkins. He was a 1973 graduate of Francis Marion High School and a 1981 graduate of the Alabama Criminal Justice Training Center. He was a radio dispatcher (PCO), first with the Marion Police Department and then with the Alabama Department of Public Safety.

In 1997 Ray married Kathy, a fellow dispatcher and the love of his life. They had 24 wonderful years together before she passed away.

Ray had many interests and talents. On any given day he might be a knife-maker, leather-worker, gunsmith, or stencil-cutter. He was a fan of NASCAR, Alabama football, and black coffee. He enjoyed traveling, reading, photography, and was classic rock music fanatic. He was a firearm enthusiast and a respected member of the gun-trading community.

Ray was known for being friendly, down-to-earth, and easy to talk to. He had a willingness to help whoever and whenever he could.

His warmth, good humor, and easygoing manner is what will be missed most by his friends and family.

Preceding him in death were his parents, wife Kathy Needham Perkins, brother William Kenneth Perkins, Sr., and an infant sister, Julia Perkins.

Ray leaves to cherish his memory a brother, Donald Perkins of Greensboro; niece, Elizabeth (Brad) Brady of Marion; nephew, William (Virginia) Perkins of Selma, and a stepson Chris (Lori) Brakefield of McCalla, AL.

The family will be having a private memorial.

Donations may be made in Ray’s memory to either: Mt. Carmel Cemetery Fund, 56 Pine Thicket Rd., Marion, AL 36756 or Phillips Chapel Cemetery Fund, 435 Chapel Rd., Sumiton, AL 35148