Rev. Dan Alan Ray

Reverend Dan A. Ray of Greer passed away peacefully surrounded by family Saturday, November 11, 2017. Mr. Ray was a beloved husband and father, an impactful Baptist minister for more than 60 years, an author, friend and mentor to countless others, and an active volunteer in Greer at Greer First Baptist, as a member of the Willing Workers Sunday School Class, with the Greer Lion’s Club and many years as a board member of Greer Community Ministries. It is in his service to God that Ray will be most remembered. His ministry was his passion and spanned the nation. He served as Pastor of Sylvia Circle Baptist Church of Rock Hill, SC, Palo Verde Baptist Church of Phoenix, AZ, Orange, CA, and Bethel Baptist Church of Greenville, SC. He served as Director of Missions for the Beaverdam Baptist Association in Oconee County, SC, Director of Evangelism and Stewardship for the Pennsylvania/South Jersey Baptist Convention in Harrisburg, PA, and Director of Stewardship and Cooperative Program Development for the South Carolina Baptist Convention. He also served North Greenville University as a development officer, First Baptist Church Mauldin, SC as church administrator and First Baptist Greer as church administrator. In addition, after his retirement, Ray helped many Baptist Churches in the Upstate during difficult transition periods as a valuable interim pastor. He was especially blessed to serve the Rocky Hill Baptist Church in Cedar Mountain, NC as his last official place of ministry. Ray also served in recent years on the Board of Trustees of Connie Maxwell Children’s Home of Greenwood, SC Ray’s book, “Laughing with the Reverend,” recalled humorous an inspirational moments from a lifetime of church work. As a public speaker and entertainer, his “stories” entertained and inspired hundreds of audiences throughout South Carolina in recent years. He is survived by his beloved wife Martha of 62 years, a son, Reverend Alan Ray and his wife Melinda of Richmond, VA, Barry Ray and his wife Tina, of Greer, Andy Ray and his wife Regina, of Marietta, and daughter Robin Ray Crusco and husband Greg of Greer. He leaves behind eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Also considered surviving children of Mr. Ray are Brian Ikjae Chin of OK, and AI Sato of Tokyo, Japan, and dozens of international students who lived with the Ray family over many years. A celebration of Reverend Ray’s life will take place 3:00 p.m. Monday, November 13, 2017 at Greer First Baptist Church with visitation from 1:30 p.m. until 2:45 p.m. at the church. A private family burial will be held at Hillcrest Memory Gardens. Honorary Pallbearers will be the members of the Willing Workers Sunday School Class and retired Directors of Missions of South Carolina. The family is comforted by the reality that Mr. Ray is now at the feet of the Savior whom he served tirelessly his entire life, surrounded by countless thousands of people in heaven who are there after having been touched by his lifetime of ministry. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, P.O. box 1178, Greenwood, SC, 29648-1178 or at ConnieMaxell.com. Online condolences may be made at www.thewoodmortuary.com

Rev. Dan Alan Ray

October 14, 1933 - November 11, 2017