Funeral services for Mr. Ray C. Walters,78, of Roxie, who died Friday, Feb. 3, 2012 at Promise Hospital inVidalia after a lengthy illness, will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7,at Laird Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Thomas Wicker, ofVictory Baptist Church in Enterprise, officiating.

    Burial will follow at Natchez City Cemetery under the direction ofLaird Funeral Home.

    Visitation was from 5 until 8 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.

    Mr. Walters was born Jan. 3, 1934, in Natchez, the son of JerryWalters and Nancy Artman Walters. Ray was educated in Adams Countyat Kingston Elementary and Natchez High School. He joined theNational Guard and was called to active duty during the KoreanConflict at Camp Antabury, N.C. He was also a member of theprestigious “American Legion.” After his discharge, he returnedhome to Natchez, where he was employed at International Paper Co.,where he worked for 42 years, retiring in February 1995. On his offdays, he farmed, cut and bailed hay, logged and worked cattle forothers. He was a very busy and active man and noted by some as aworkaholic.

    After his retirement, he continued with his gardening and lovedsharing his bounty with others. He had a wonderful green thumb. Hefished, hunted and dearly loved driving his John Deere tractoraccompanied by his dog friend, Josie Marie, who misses him verymuch. Ray will be greatly missed by all his loved ones, family andfriends alike. May God bless you all.

    He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Jeffery Walters;and four brothers, Lewis, Howard, Raymond and Johnny Walters.

    He is survived by his loving wife, Linda Walters, of Hamburg; twosons, Eddie Walters, of Brookhaven, and Jerry Carpenter, ofTabernacle, N.J.; three daughters, Sara Delaughter and husband,Steve, of Brookhaven, Belinda Moore, of Natchez, and Sonja Baker,of Hamburg; two sisters, Margie Ogden, of Natchez, and Betty Brownand husband Gerald, of Laurel; seven granddaughters, Angie Pratherand husband, Bryant, Stephanie Parks and husband, Darryl, MistyMoak and husband, Eric, all of Brookhaven, Corban Smith, SpringMcKenzie and husband, Ronnie, all of Hamburg, Farrah White andhusband, Gerald, of Natchez, and Jaime Carpenter, of Pompano Beach,Fla.; three grandsons, Charles Anderson, of Vidalia, JefferyAnderson and wife, Emily, and Jerry Carpenter III, of Tabernacle,N.J.; six great-grandsons, Michael and Bradley Prather, ofBrookhaven, Haven Smith, of Hamburg, Shannon White, of Natchez,Bryce Anderson and William Anderson, both of Vidalia; sixgreat-granddaughters, Bridget Anderson, of Vidalia, Hannah Smith,of Hamburg, Bailey Parks, Mattie and MaLane Moak, all ofBrookhaven, and Kirstin White, of Natchez; special nephew, JerryOgden; very best friend, Buddy Anderson; and a host of nieces andnephews.

    Pallbearers will be Will Anderson, Bradley Prather, MichaelPrather, Darryl Parks, Eric Moak and Ed Conn.

    Honorary pallbearers will be Stacey Wallett, Freddie Sandel, JoeSprings, James W. Smith, Freddie Cooper and other co-workers andfriends of International Paper Co.

    Special heartfelt thanks to Dr. Barry Tillman and the otherphysicians that attended to Ray, and to a loving, nurturing andvery competent staff of intensive care nurses.

    Online condolences may be sent to the family atwww.lairdfh.com.