Henry Ray

Henry Jonathan Ray III, age 82, of Oxford, Mississippi, passed away peacefully on November 20, 2025. Born on November 26,1942 in Alexandria, Louisiana, Henry was the cherished child of Fern Pendergrast and Henry Jonathan Ray, Jr. While his father was in the Pacific during WW II, Henry, his twin sister Penny, and his mother lived with maternal grandparents in New Orleans. After WW II, the family returned to his father's hometown of Grenada, Mississippi where he was raised. His sister Judy was born there.

Henry attended the public schools in Grenada and graduated from John Rundle High School in 1961. He attended the University of Mississippi and graduated from Mississippi College in 1967 with a degree in history.

After teaching in the public schools in Pascagoula and Tupelo, Mississippi, Henry joined the United States Air Force in October 1968. Trained at Lackland Air Force Base and Chanute Air Force Base, Henry served as a weather observer at Columbus Air Force Base until his Honorable Discharge in September 1972,

As a child, Henry had shared his interest in weather with his mother and his maternal grandfather, Julian Pendergrast. Upon discharge from the service, Henry continued his education as a meteorologist at the University of Tennessee and Arizona State University. He worked for the National Climatic Data Center of NOAA in Asheville, North Carolina for over thirty-five years, receiving awards for his work there.

In retirement, Henry continued living in Asheville until moving to Birmingham and then back to Mississippi in 2016. He lived for the last nine years in Oxford at an assisted-living facility.

Henry was raised in All Saints Episcopal Church in Grenada. He was especially known for his fine singing voice which he used to glorify God throughout his life. As an adult Henry joined the United Methodist Church. Henry had a deep Christian faith that was reflected in his acts of kindness and generosity. He studied the Bible daily and became truly knowledgeable. He was always a good, knowledgeable talker and could make an argument. Many a preacher met their match in Henry.

Henry is survived by his daughter Julie Elizabeth Ray (Charles Gillon) his sisters Penny Sisson (Ed) and Julienne Ray Carroll and his nephew Charles Carroll (Christin). He was preceded in death by his mother Fern Pendergrast and his father Henry Jonathan Ray, Jr. and his grandparents Rosa and Henry Ray and Freda and Julian Pendergrast.

Robert McElwrath, David McElwrath, Jerry Pegg, John Lippincott, Fred Griffin, and Coley Bailey will honor Henry by serving as Pallbearers. Phil Poovey and Herb Parks will serve as Honorary Pallbearers.

The family would like to thank the staff and nurses of Elison Assisted Living and Arden Home Health and Hospice for their kindness, compassion, and skilled healing ministry. The family also appreciates the compassion and ministry of the clergy and lay ministers of St. Peter's Episcopal Church and Oxford University United Methodist Church.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, November 25th at McKibben and Guinn Funeral Home in Grenada, MS. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. followed by a service at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow immediately after the service at Woodlawn Cemetery in Grenada. Friends of the family are invited to share in the celebration of Henry's life which continues in a better realm.

The family request that any donations be given to the National Parkinson Foundation or to a charity of their choice.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.mckibbenandguinn.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada, (662-307-2694).