Geneva Odum Ray

Geneva Odum Ray, 80, cherished wife, a wonderful loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, sister and friend, went home Wednesday, April 23, 2014. Mother was born in South Carolina on March 21, 1934, one of eleven children to the late John Arthur and Zannie Carver Odum. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Earl Rex Ray; sisters, Lucille Spurgin, Betty Coxie, Lillie Belle Sprouse, Wille Mae Reece and Ruby Wyatt and brother, Andy Odum. Surviving are her daughters, Donna McGaughey, Dawn Ledford (Ric) and son, David Ray (Shirley); grandchildren, Mikayla, Caleb and Eric Ledford, Christina Clark (Mitchell) and Crystal Johnson (David); great-grandson, Ayden Johynson; adopted daughter, Jeanette Angel; sisters, Edna Stone, Elizabeth Adams and Jesse Mae Cash and brother, Franklin Odum. Her children and especially her grandchildren were the center of her world. She loved her family. Mother lived all her life in Buncombe County. She left school early to take care of her mother and help care for her siblings. She loved children and was a mother to all she knew. Mother was an excellent seamstress and worked for Vanderbilt Shirt Company, Kellwood and Burlington Industries, but she was most proud of her work as a house mother for Irene Wortham Center and often brought the children home with her, and in later years, was a private sitter for the elderly at Pisgah Manor, Asheville Manor and Arbor Terrace. She loved people. Mothers love for animals was passed down to her children. She bottle-fed everything from birds to kittens. She believed all gifts from God should be cared for. Her love of flowers was contagious and brought her great joy. The family would like to thank Dr. Karen Dedman for her many years of care for mother. Our family at Clements Flower Shop, John, Linda and staff for all the roses you sent mother through the years Just Because, and Linda who treated her like the queen that she was. A special thank you to Jeanette Angel Net for taking such excellent care of mother as her caregiver. To all our church family, Glory Tabernacle, for all your prayers, calls, visitations and wonderful care of us we love you. Visitation is Sunday evening, April 27th from 5 to 6:30 PM with funeral services following at 6:30 PM at Glory Tabernacle Church, 1221 Sweeten Creek Road. The Rev. Ronnie Pittman and Rev. David Ingram will be officiating. Burial will be at Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery on Monday at 12 Noon.