WINDSOR -- Samuel Ray Bridgeforth (Mr. Ray) went to be with our Lord on June 4, 2009.

Samuel "Ray" Bridgeforth was born on Dec. 28, 1929, in Oxly, Mo., to Rex Bridgeforth and Mary Gamblin Bridgeforth.

On Nov. 17, 1949, he married his sweetheart, Esther Neoma Whittom.

In the spring of 1951, Ray and Esther moved to Rutland, Ill., where they spent the next 40 years.

They were members of the First Church of God in Streator, Ill., where Ray was a Sunday school teacher, song director and board member.

After retiring in 1992, they moved to Windsor. They had attended Williams Chapel Church of God in Aiken but for the last several years had been worshipping at His Way Baptist Church.

Ray was a great lover of the outdoors and animals. You never knew what kind of "critters" you might find in his care. His hobbies were hunting and horseback riding in his younger days, but he traded all that in for a fishing pole as he got older.

Ray did not know the meaning of "stranger." He loved to talk and visit with everyone, and everyone loved him.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Ernest Bridgeforth and Carl Bridgeforth, and a sister, Rose Gilbert.

He is survived by his wife, Esther Bridgeforth; a son, Dennis (Debra) Bridgeforth of Suffolk, Va.; two daughters, Debra (Randall) Hobbs and Dawn (Gary) Lyon, both of Windsor; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandson. He is also survived by two brothers, Robert (Pat) Bridgeforth of Xenia, Ill., and Gilbert (Helen) Bridgeforth of Rutland, Ill.; and four sisters, Fay Lingle of Minonk, Ill., Fannie Bridgeforth and Sadie (Gary) Darm of Streator, Ill., and Elsie (Bob) Kline of Dana, Ill.

Ray also leaves behind a wonderful church family and some very special friends who have been true blessings in his life - Lois and Laura Coates and Pat and Patty Quill.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, June 7, 2009, at 3 p.m. at George Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Park Avenue S.W., Aiken, with Pastor James Irick and Pastor Pat Quill. Interment will follow in Spring Branch Baptist Church. Pallbearers will be Geary Roberts, Fred Pruitt, Larry Bodiford, Travaris Hanks, Chris Coffey and Tim Webb. Honorary pallbearers will be Lee Mock and Jerry Marshall. The family will receive friends tonight (Saturday) from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. South Carolina Cremation & Burial Society is assisting the family.

In lieu of flowers, donations should be gifted to His Way Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 261, Windsor, SC 29856.

Expressions of sympathy for the Bridgeforth family may be directed through southcarolinacremation.com.