Betty Katherine Parham Ray

Augusta, GA – Entered into rest Tuesday, May 5, 2026, Betty Katherine Parham Ray, 99, wife of the late Deleon N. Ray.

Betty was a member of the Huguenot Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, and United Daughters of the Confederacy. She loved the outdoors, especially her vegetable and flower gardens, every kind of animal (except cats) and going fishing with her cane pole and a can of red wigglers. She was an avid University of Georgia Bulldogs football fan and loved singing along with her favorite 1940’s Big Band swing tunes. She always had a buckeye in her pocket for good luck and often carried one or two extra to share with others.

Born in Atlanta, GA, Betty grew up on a working peach farm in High Falls, GA. She graduated from Washington Seminary in Atlanta in 1945. In 1956, Betty met Deleon Ray, the love of her life, while on vacation with her family at Daytona Beach, FL. Deleon was playing guitar in a bluegrass band which won second place in the Florida All-State Competition. In February 1958, unhappy about the big wedding her family had planned for them, Betty eloped with Deleon to be married by a Justice of the Peace. The happy couple then settled in Atlanta. In their later years, they moved to Augusta, GA, to be closer to their daughter Celeste and daughter-in-law Susan.

In addition to her husband, Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Gordon and Katherine Mulkey, and her uncle and aunt, Judge Hewitt W. and Grace R. Chambers.

Surviving family include daughter Dr. Celeste Ray (Susan Yarborough), several cousins, and beloved extended family members Melanie Yancy, Tywanda Godwin, and Demetria Harris. The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of Trinity Hospice of Augusta for their compassion, support, and responsiveness during this difficult time.

A graveside service will be held Friday, May 8, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Crestlawn Memorial Park, 2000 Marietta Blvd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30318.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cutting Garden at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, Augusta, GA, at https://saintpauls.org/ or to the American Diabetes Association at https://diabetes.org/.

The family will receive friends Thursday, May 7, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com