Jan. 3, 1934 – Feb. 3, 2012

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

Burial will follow in the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mr. Walters was born Jan. 3, 1934, in Natchez, the son of Jerry Walters and Nancy Artman Walters.

Mr. Walters was educated in Adams County at Kingston Elementary School and Natchez High School. He joined the National Guard and was called to active duty during the Korean conflict at Camp Antabury in North Carolina. He was also a member of the prestigious American Legion.

After his discharge, Mr. Walters returned home to Natchez and was employed at International Paper Company, where he worked for 42 years until he retired in February 1995. On his off days, Mr. Walters farmed, cut and bailed hay, logged and worked cattle for others. He was a very busy and active man and was noted by some as a workaholic.

After his retirement, Mr. Walters continued with his gardening and loved sharing his bounty with others. He had a wonderful green thumb. Mr. Walters fished, hunted and dearly loved driving his John Deere tractor accompanied by his dog friend, Josie Marie, who misses him very much.

Mr. Walters will be greatly missed by all his loved ones, family and friends alike. May God bless you all.

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

Survivors include his loving wife, Linda Walters, of Hamburg; two sons, Eddie Walters, of Brookhaven, and Jerry Carpenter, of Tabernacle, N.J.; three daughters, Sara Delaughter, and husband, Steve, of Brookhaven, Belinda Moore, of Natchez, and Sonja Baker of Hamburg; seven granddaughters, Angie Prather, and husband, Bryant, Stephanie Parks, and husband, Darryl, Misty Moak, and husband, Eric, all of Brookhaven, Corban Smith, Spring McKenzie, and husband, Ronnie, all of Hamburg, Farrah White, and husband, Gerald, of Natchez, and Jamie Carpenter of Pompano Beach, Fla.; three grandsons, Charles Anderson, of Vidalia, Jeffery Anderson and wife, Emily, and Jerry Carpenter III, of Tabernacle, N.J.; six great-grandsons, Michael and Bradley Prather, of Brookhaven, Haven Smith, of Hamburg, Shannon White, of Natchez, Bryce Anderson and Williams Anderson, both of Vidalia; six great-granddaughters, Bridget Anderson, of Vidalia, Hannah Smith, of Hamburg, Bailey Parks, Mattie and MaLane Moak, all of Brookhaven, and Kirstin White, of Natchez; a special nephew, Jerry Ogden; very best friend, Buddy Anderson; and a number of nieces and nephews.

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

Honorary pallbearers will be Stacey Wallett, Freddie Sandel, Joe Springs, James W. Smith, Freddie Cooper and other co-workers and friends from International Paper Company.

A special heartfelt thanks to Dr. Barry Tillman and the other physicians that attended to Mr. Walters and to a loving, nurturing and very competent staff of intensive care nurses.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.lairdfh.com.