John Ray Newton of Millen, Jenkins County, Georgia, passed away on Tuesday, May 1, 2012. Born May 12, 1928, J. Ray Newton was the son of the late Jack Calhoun Newton and Pearl Aycock Newton of Jenkins County. J. Ray lost his father at a young age and was widely known for his strong work ethic. During high school, J. Ray was recognized as an all American Future Farmers of America. J. Ray graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Agriculture and was a member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity.

J. Ray was a lifelong farmer and agriculturist. He had a passion for his work, and he loved University of Georgia football, breakfast with the Coffee Club and time spent with his family. J. Ray was an active, long term member of the Boch Sunday School class at Millen Baptist Church and the Elam Baptist Church Merrymakers.

J. Ray is pre-deceased by his son, Don Ray Newton, and his sisters, Dorothy Newton Cook and Hazel Newton Clayton. J. Ray is survived by his wife of 63 years, Carolyn Bowen Newton, his daughter, Karen Newton Hull (James Meriwether Hull, Sr.), his daughter-in-law, Kathy Hendrix Newton, and his six grandchildren, John Douglas Newton, Benjamin Hendrix Newton, Coles Phinizy Hull, Caroline Newton Hull, James Meriwether Hull, Jr. and Frank Inman Hull.

The family recognizes J. Ray's wonderful and kind caregivers Wanda Black, Sheila Dunnum, Bobby and Isabelle Wilkerson, Roxanne Williams and Henry Sapp (Redtop). The family also gives thanks for the great and compassionate care that J. Ray received from the Ogeechee Area Hospice. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Millen Baptist Church, the Elam Baptist Church Building Fund or Ogeechee Area Hospice.

The family will have visitation at their home located at 4966 Highway 25 South, Millen, Georgia from 5pm to 8pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012. Graveside services will be held at the Elam Baptist Church Cemetery on Friday, May 4, 2012 at 3:30pm.

Active pallbearers will be John Cleve Newton, Jimmy Knight, Steve Newton, Johnny Newton, Charlie Lanier, Sid Newton, Joe Hendley and Dr. John Ell Hendley, Sr. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Boch Sunday School Class of the Millen Baptist Church.