Ray Millsaps

Ray Millsaps, 90 of Robbinsville, N.C., took his last earthly breath at Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital in Murphy, N.C., and entered into the Kingdom of Heaven on Saturday, June 14, 2025.
He was a native of Graham County, and the son of the late Dee and Eudora Millsaps.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Carol Maxine Millsaps. They are now rejoicing together again in Heaven.
Ray accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior many years ago and spent the majority of his life serving him. He was a father, grandfather, preacher, pastor and a big part of The Gospel Travelers, a family singing group.
He pastored Sunnyside Baptist Church in the 90s. He loved serving the Lord and always took any opportunity he could to preach or testify. He was always willing to help anyone in need, and he cherished his family very much, especially his grandchildren, whom he loved to spend time with. He left us with so many memories, and his life was a testimony of shining a light for Jesus and being a good and faithful servant.
If you are reading this and you're not certain where you will spend eternity, Ray would have wanted us to use this opportunity to tell you about Jesus and how to be saved. Romans 10:9: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
Ray believed in hard work and had many talents. He spent some of his younger years traveling the country in construction, and was very talented at furniture building and the woodworking trade.
He loved to fish, hunt, trap, work on motors, and was a big CB radio enthusiast. His CB handle was "Freight Train."
Ray and his late wife Maxine always grew gardens that produced a lot, more than they could eat. It pleased them to be able to give away vegetables to everyone.
Ray was a very good cook and along with his wife Maxine, they wanted to feed everybody they came in contact with! He loved to joke, cut up and had a contagious smile.
Ray's family was one of his many blessings and he always acknowledged how much he was thankful for them. He wanted them to know Jesus Christ, and to see them saved and attending church serving the Lord. He instilled in us that prayer was extremely important, and he always prayed before every meal.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Cathy and Marlon Jackson of Robbinsville, N.C.; son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Susie West of Nashville, Tenn.; son, Randy Millsaps; daughters, Ginger, Melonie and Debbie; grandchildren, Bucky and Mckenzie Jackson of Robbinsville, N.C., Kyle West of Texas, and Kaleb and Hannah West of Chattanooga, Tenn.; great-grandchildren: Gracey Jackson, Bucky Jackson Jr., Colton, Jace and Soraya West; and great-great grandson, Bentley Crisp.
Funeral services will be held at noon Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the Townson-Smith Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Roger Orr will officiate.
Burial will follow the service at the Lower Yellow Creek Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. – noon at the chapel, prior to the service.
Townson-Smith Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Millsaps family.
An online register is available at townson-smithfuneralhome.com.