Pat Ray

Patricia Simmons Ray passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at Ogeechee Area Hospice in Statesboro, Georgia.

Pat was a native of Bulloch County and spent much of her adult life in the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. In 2024, she returned home to Statesboro, where she was surrounded by family and lifelong roots.

She was of the Baptist faith and a proud graduate of Statesboro High School and Georgia Southern College.

Pat dearly loved her mountain life. An entrepreneur at heart, she created, owned, and operated several gift stores in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, as well as Lake Toxaway and Highlands, North Carolina. Her creativity, independence, and warm spirit were evident in both her work and her relationships.

She was preceded in death by her parents, I.V. and Sara Simmons, and her brothers, Randall Simmons, Sr., Richard Simmons, and Ben Hill Simmons.

She is survived by her sister-in-law, Lynne Simmons of Statesboro; her nephews, Randall Simmons, Jr. (Yetive) of Statesboro and Alex Simmons (Karah) of Bluffton, South Carolina; and her beloved nieces and nephews: Callie and Luke Simmons of Statesboro; Cayson, Cole, and Cooper Simmons of Bluffton; Rikki Lyn Simmons of Brooklyn, New York; Sarah Simmons of Atlanta; and Sam and Ben Simmons of Jesup, Georgia. She is also survived by her aunt, Ramona Niles (Hank) of Brevard, North Carolina, along with numerous cherished cousins.

A graveside memorial service and burial will be held on Friday, February 13, at 11:00 a.m. at Eastside Cemetery in Statesboro, Georgia, with Pastor Tyler Woodson officiating.

Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com .

Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory in Statesboro is in charge of arrangements.