Frances Walker Ray

Frances Ozilline Walker Ray passed into her glory on February 1st, 2026 in Decatur, GA. Frances was born on October 25th 1937 at Georgia Baptist Hospital to Frances Ozilline Garrow Walker (Atlanta, GA) and Ernest Beck Walker (Cave Spring, GA). Beck's parents were Worrill Hughs Walker and Lillian Letitia Lester. Ozilline's parents were Leila Emelissie Elenburg Garrow and Frederick George Garrow. George was a candy maker at Garrow's Candy Kitchen on White Hall Street in Atlanta founded in 1884 by his father George Garrow Sr.

Frances grew up in a multigenerational house on Howell Place in West End Atlanta with her parents and her maternal grandmother MawMaw (Leila), along with the occasional boarder to help make ends meet. She had one older sister, Jane who she adored and admired. They were like two sides of the same coin and in many ways completed each other. Even after Jane's early passing, she loomed large; Frances would talk about her all the time so that the Ray family always felt Jane's charisma and wit in their midst.

Mawmaw did most of the cooking and sewing, along with Frances' mother Ozilline, who also volunteered at Grady Hospital until the kids were preteens. Ozilline then enthusiastically took on a career as a medical secretary. Her dad, Beck was a firefighter at fire station #1 in Atlanta and briefly in Virginia Highlands. He also found extra work as a soda jerk at Howell Park Pharmacy. Notably, Beck helped fight the infamous Winecoff Hotel fire (1946) which Frances remembered as very traumatic for her father because so many young people died. After an accident in an emergency vehicle, Beck left fire-fighting and worked as a contractor in Atlanta. Beck's brother Phillip Walker was also immersed in Atlanta and worked in the advertising department at the Atlanta Constitution.

Frances attended Peeples Street Elementary School where her favorite grade was 5th and her favorite subjects were English and Math. She loved playing with the neighborhood kids at Howell Park which doubled as both the elementary school playground and the city park. Frances lived within walking distance of her schools, which helped her and her sister Jane to be fairly independent. One of her best friends was the poet Frank Manley who later taught at Emory University. She loved her Presbyterian Church, a love which she came by honestly as both her maternal great-grandfather and great-uncle were Reverends that preached the Gospel. Frances went to church anytime she could, including Bible school and Wednesday night suppers.

Frances Ray attended Brown High School and said her Brown High friends were "friends for life". Her favorite subject was French. She was very involved in school clubs and won the West End Civitan Club Citizenship award. She was valedictorian of Brown High Class of 1955. Although very involved in school, she also worked at the Uncle Remus branch of the Atlanta Public Library, at the West End Sears Roebuck in the catalogue sales department, and at Davison's Department Store in gift wrap.

Frances remembered one of her favorite outings was going with her Mom to the Frances Virginia Tea Room in downtown Atlanta on Peachtree Street on the top floor of a building across from Davison-Paxon Department Store. She loved going to see movies, especially the classic movie musicals at the Fox Theater. Since her family did not own a car until much later, the only family trip she ever took as a child was in a borrowed car to Lakeland, FL where her maternal Aunt Esther lived. From there they took a day drive to Clearwater, FL so Frances and Jane could see the Gulf of Mexico. Little did she know she would marry a Florida man who loved the Gulf.

Frances had early aspirations to go to Agnes Scott College, a Presbyterian college in Decatur to study Christian education, but when she received a full tuition scholarship to Emory University, she chose to attend there as a day student, riding the bus from West End to school, and sometimes recruiting a friend to drive her. She was in the Class of 1959, the 3rd class ever to include women at Emory. She was a Kappa Alpha Theta, which in Emory's pre-sorority time was called the Kite Club. She majored in English and Religion, still pursuing a plan to be an educator, and teach high school English. Those plans quickly took a turn when in 1958, she married Emory Medical student, Florida native Larry Graydon Ray, who she first met by the jukebox at the Emory student hangout Dooley's Den. Larry was the son of a Methodist minister Laurie Graydon Ray and a spunky, wise Florida woman, Katherine Jane Adams. Larry and Frances were married by the Reverend Laurie Ray at Cascade Methodist Church, because her home Presbyterian Church was not available. From that point on, she was a devoted Methodist.

While Larry did his internship at Emory Hospital, they lived at University Apartments on Shoop Court. Frances Walker Ray was pregnant when she was handed her diploma in late May of 1959. Her first born, Laura Jane came into the world 5 weeks later at Emory University Hospital. Larry and Frances moved to Pensacola where Larry attended Naval Flight Surgeon Training School, then they both shipped off to Guam where Larry was stationed for 3 ½ years. While in Guam, their 2nd child, Susan Marie was born.

After Guam, they had a brief stint at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, FL., then they returned to Atlanta and made their life in Decatur, GA where they had two more children, Amy Elizabeth and Larry Graydon. All 4 kids started out on Homewood Court and then moved to the Country Squire neighborhood in 1969, where they went to Dekalb County Schools, Laurel Ridge Elementary and Shamrock High School. Just like their mom, they found some independence through being within walking distance of their schools, as well as their local swimming pool and soda fountain. The Rays spent many good times at Lake Hartwell. And often dwelled in their touchstone, Englewood, FL, on the Gulf of Mexico, where her husband, Larry cut his teeth on fishing and skiing. Frances and Larry supported their kid's curiosity and fulfilled their own with car trips in the Country Squire station wagon up the Atlantic Seaboard and out to the West Coast learning history, seeking Nature and adventure, and exploring the National Parks.

While Larry Ray Sr. practiced medicine as a radiologist in Atlanta, Frances raised their 4 kids, as well as many of the kids in the neighborhood. The Ray house was a place to meet up and Mrs. Ray was like a den mother, dishing out advice with the snacks and making sure the kids were safe and learned their manners. She was an avid member of the PTA and booster clubs, and ushered her kids through clubs, sports, musicals, field trips, parties, and church, always with a mind on generosity and growth. The Ray's yard included a bountiful garden of flowers, fruits, vegetables and honey bees. The house was filled with a myriad of dogs, cats, fish and the occasional frog or gerbil. Frances was genuinely interested in the details of peoples' lives and accepted all shapes and sizes. If she felt challenged or conflicted by new perspectives it was never outwardly evident; she made quiet, brave intentions to evolve and to love unconditionally. Mom stayed true to her English major roots and read voraciously, both fiction and nonfiction, and often passed books around with her children. While the kids grew up, the Ray family attended North Decatur Methodist Church and Decatur First United Methodist Church. In the last few years, Frances found a supportive and engaging home at University Heights United Methodist Church. She also enjoyed the company and conversation of the Country Squire Women's Book Club.

Frances was a devoted and doting grandmother. She lovingly supported her grandkids in all their creative endeavors and it didn't matter what it was. Whether it was playing in a local indie band, writing and performing a risqué clown show, or fight choreographing for a Shakespeare play, Frances was a loyal supporter.

She flew from this mortal coil on February 1st 2026, a clear night with a full moon. She leaves a legacy of love, quiet strength, kindness and true compassion.

Frances was predeceased by her faithful and loving husband Larry Graydon Ray, Sr; her dear sister Jane; and a brother Frederick who died soon after birth. She is survived by: her 4 children Laura Ray (Tracey Harting), Susan Ray (Julie Semones); Amy Ray; Larry Ray, Jr. (Maggie Johns); and her 8 grandchildren Laurie, Simon, Alex, Nathan (Julia Byrne) Ray, Ozilline Schrader-Ray; and Catrina, William, and Michael Johns. She is also survived by 3 sisters in law: Janet Ray (Carl) Edwards, Diana Ray Tope, and Nancy Ray; 11 nieces and nephews: Steve (Jill) Colsson, Mark Colsson, Dawn Steinbach and Lynn Colsson; Paul (Gabrielle Hecht) Edwards, Craig (MaryK) Edwards, Michael Edwards; Melody Tope (T.R.) Hainline, Jennifer Tope (Michael) Stanton, Whitney Tope and Keri Tope; 14 great nieces and nephews, 11 great grand nieces and nephews, and a gaggle of extended family in the Adams, Kirby and Threadgill clans.

The family will hold visitation on Saturday Feb. 7th 4-6pm at University Heights United Methodist Church (1267 Balsam Drive, Decatur, GA 30033).

Celebration of Life will be on Sunday, Feb 8th at 1:30 pm (also at University Heights UMC) with Pastor Briggs Smith presiding, followed by a lunch reception at the church, after which the family will gather for a private graveside service at Decatur Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Frances' memory to: Atlanta Community Food Bank (https://www.acfb.org)

or University Heights United Methodist Church (https://uhumc.org/)