Elaine (Sumner) Ray

Elaine Sumner Ray, 68, passed away December 25, 2021 after a courageous battle with brain cancer. She was born July 8, 1953 in Ahoskie to the late Victor Rowe Sumner and Ella Grace Eason Sumner. Elaine graduated from Ahoskie High School in 1971 and attended Hardbarger Business College. She worked as an insurance agent with Jackson, Whaley and Vreeland Insurance Agency as well as Bradsher and Bunn Insurance Agent until her retirement. Following retirement, she sat with the elderly and provided her companionship and loving care. Elaine was a wonderful wife, mother, sister, Nina, and friend who will be dearly missed.

Elaine is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Ray Bunn (Bryan); grandson, Stephen Russell Bunn; sister, Dinah Sumner Davenport (Ray); brothers-in-law: Jack Ray and Tom Ray; as well as several nieces and nephews and their families. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her grandson, Cameron Rowe Bunn on August 26, 2012 and her beloved husband, Ronald “Ronny” William Ray on May 22, 2019; a nephew, Matthew Noah Davenport; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Charles and Jeanne Ray; and a sister-in-law, Patricia Ray.     

A service to celebrate her life will be held at 1:00 pm, Thursday, December 30, 2021 at L. Harold Poole Funeral Service Chapel, 944 Old Knight Road, Knightdale, NC 27545. Elaine's service will be live streamed and can be viewed by clicking the live stream link below. 

The family will receive relatives and friends immediately following the service and other times at the home.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Wendell United Methodist Church, PO Box 1925, Wendell, NC 27591 or Transitions LifeCare, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.                               

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