Herbert "Ray" Denton

Herbert "Ray" Denton, 67, of J. P. Hawkins Circle in Morganton went home to be with his Heavenly Father on April 6, 2009 at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC following a brief illness. He was born June 1, 1941 in Burke County, and was a son of the late Forrest "Bill" Denton, Sr. and Annie Thacker Denton. Ray was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church where he was a Deacon and a choir member. He was a promoter of Gospel music and sang in several quartet groups. Ray worked in the furniture industry for many years. He retired from Catawba Valley Community College where he taught furniture technology. Ray also worked for Western Piedmont Community College, the First United Methodist Church in Conway, SC, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Four Truckers, and managed motels in North Myrtle Beach. Now he has a position in God’s heavenly choir.Ray leaves behind his wife, Barbara Copeland Denton of the home; a daughter, Sandra L. Denton of Morganton; a grandson, Joshua R. Denton; and great-grandchildren, Kayla, Natalie, and Emma ; sisters, Edna Phillips, Verlie Deaton, Lela Seitz, Lucy Chapman, and Doris Smith and husband, Harold, all of Morganton; brothers, John Denton and wife, Orce, Jerry Denton and wife, Loretta, all of Morganton, and Rev. Donald Denton and wife, Freda, of Hickory, NC; a sister-in-law, Ann Denton; eight nieces and eleven nephews; several cousins; and extended family members and friends. Ray loved his family and friends very much.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Forrest "Jay" Denton, Jr; nephew, Mike Wellman; and grandmother, Jane Thacker.Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, April 9, 2009 at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Larry Cline, and the Reverends Allan Lunsford, Donald Denton, Burl Sain, and Clyde Smith officiating. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Building Fund, 2396 Enola Rd., Morganton, NC 28655 or to Gideons International, PO Box 678, Morganton, NC 28680.