Theda Rae Bray

Theda Rae Warrick Bray
Our hearts are sad, Theda Rae Warrick Bray, 96, passed away on December 3, after an extended illness.
Theda Rae Warrick Bray was born to Burie S. and Lucy Shultz Warrick on February 11, 1929, in Jay, Florida. She was their first daughter and second child. She attended Jay Elementary and Jay High School. She attended Century Summer School to progress a grade. She graduated as valedictorian of Jay High School, class of 1946.
Theda continued her education at Massey Draughn Business School in Montgomery, Alabama. She returned home and began her career working at the REA (Rural Electric Association). While working there she met the love of her life, J. D. Bray, whom she married on September 11, 1952. They had three beautiful children: Debbie, Cheryl, and Stewart.
Theda continued her career at St. Regis Paper Mill Credit Union, in Cantonment, Florida. Later she ran for Town of Jay Clerk and was elected. She also worked one day a week at the Jay Livestock Market Sale.
In 1975, she decided to continue her education and attended Jefferson Davis Junior College in Brewton, Alabama, where she received her A. A. Degree. She continued her education at University of West Florida and received her B. A. Degree in Business from there in 1982.
Theda continued her career at Escambia River Electric Corp in Jay, Fl. She was instrumental in getting the Community Center at Jay through many trips to Tallahassee, writing letters and applying for grants to the state of Florida. She was a charter member of the Jay Chamber of Commerce, an active member of the Eastern Star Chapter of Jay, a member of Beta Sigma Phi Chapter of Jay, and the Jay Historical Society. She was a member of Jay First Baptist Church where she attended her entire life, as long as able.
Theda enjoyed fishing from childhood where she went with her parents to the river, and later with her husband and family. She loved to travel to see the wonders of God's creations. She traveled worldwide and would always say the best thing was return home to Jay, Florida.
Ms. Bray is preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 59 years; her daughter, Theda Cheryl Bray; her brothers, William Jennings Warrick, and Wylie Lee Warrick; her sister, Aimee Warrick Harris; and her daughter-in-law, Maria Lynn Bray.
She is survived by her daughter, Debbie Arlene Bray Gilley; and her son, Stewart Jeroel Bray; her grandchildren, S. J. Bray, and Meghan Gilley; her great-grandchild, Tristan Bray; her sister, Drusilla Warrick Dobson of Jay, Florida; and many nieces and nephews. Nancy Prescott and Trish Nelson were adopted family members who cared for mother as they would care for their own mother.
Pallbearers are: Ricky Nelson, Darren Dobson, Obie Nevels, Ricky Hendricks, Wesley Scott, and Bryan Watson.
Honorary pallbearers are her sisters in Beta Sigma Phi, Jay Chapter.
A funeral service will be held on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at Jay First Baptist Church, 14113 S. Alabama Street, Jay, Florida 32565, with visitation from 2:00 - 2:30 p.m. and service at 2:30 p.m. Interment will be at Jay cemetery.
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