Jean Carol (Ray) Berry

Berry, Jean Carol Ray-Graham

Jean Carol Ray Berry peacefully went home to be with her Lord and Savior Monday July 26th, 2021.

Jean was born in Alamance County on February 23, 1937 to the late Frank and Mozelle Ray of Graham NC. She loved the Lord and was a member of the Belmont Baptist Church. When her children were small she started doing alterations in the home. She would do work for several businesses in Graham and Burlington. Years later after the kids were grown she opened up her own little alterations shop in Graham called “Jeans Alterations”. When she first opened her shop she would often wonder if she would have enough business to keep the bills paid. In a very short period of time Jean became well known as the Alterations lady in Graham.

  She was kept very busy doing alterations for local Police, Fire, EMS and Highway Patrol and many friends. She had such a love, for who she called, her Extended Family. She would rather you come visit her, sit in the rocking chair and talk to her while she fixed your clothes and many times for no charge. She knew her “Extended Family” by name along with their family’s names. She would always be proud to tell who had come to visit her today.

   Jean loved life, her family and was always smiling. She enjoyed pulling pranks on people and she loved cooking. Holidays were always a huge deal because she knew her family was coming to visit and she spent the whole day cooking. Jean also had a love of baking and often got requests to make her pineapple cake from scratch.  As the years went on, she survived many medical setbacks but always seemed to come back strong because she had so many things she wanted to do. She was so proud of having Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren and being called “Nannie”. She loved her friends, shopping and towards the end of her life she would go listen to music, fellowship and watch all her friends dance at the Senior dance in Siler City on Friday nights with her fiancé Billy Smith.

   Jean was proceeded in death by Oscar Catoe; Husband, Thomas Eugene Berry; husband, Laura Catoe; sister, and Pete Ray; brother. Surviving is Susan Jones-Cobb (Bonnell); daughter, Shari Bowman (Mike); daughter, Alan “Bud” Catoe; son and Billy Ray Smith (Fiance). Jean has 3 surviving Grandchildren Shane Jones (Tammy) of Clayton NC, Joni Phillips (Lori) of Haw River and Jon Catoe (Taylor) of Clayton and 2 Great Grandchildren Sophie Newport and Adley Catoe. Surviving also are 4 Step Children and multiple Step grand and great grandchildren. Surviving also are her brothers Bill Ray (Celia) of Archdale, Joe Ray (Linda) of Snow Camp, Don Ray (Leona) of Plantation Florida and her sister Nancy Griffin (Don) of Snow Camp, along with many nieces and nephews and she was loved by all.

Jean fought a good fight, she finished the course and she kept the faith.

Friends and family can visit the family at her home in Graham NC on Wednesday July 28, 2021.  A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday July 29, 2021 at Bethel Baptist Church at 238 Dixon Rd. Graham, NC 27253 with the Pastor David Jackson, Nathanael Hobbs and Ozzy Thompson officiating. Burial will follow alongside her late husband Tom at Hebron UMC Cemetery in Mebane at 2325 Mebane Oaks Rd. Mebane, NC 27302.  The family will receive friends from 12:00 Noon until 1 :45 PM prior to the service at the Church. 

Please follow NC guidelines for social distancing during visitation at Bethel Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to AuthoraCare of Alamance and Guilford County at 918 Chapel Hill Rd. Burlington, NC 27215. Online condolences may be made at www.mcclurefuneralservice.net

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