Funeral services for Joel Ray Slayton, age 82 of Petersburg, will be conducted Thursday morning at 11 AM at Higgins Funeral Home with Bro. Chester Slayton and Bro. Sonny Moore officiating. Burial will follow in Lincoln Cemetery. Mr. Slayton passed away Monday in Huntsville Hospital.
He was a native of Lincoln County and the son of the late Everett Eugene and Ora Mae Ashworth Slayton. Mr. Slayton was retired from General Motors and was a member of the Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife Velma Fulgham Slayton, son; Dickie Ray Slayton of Wilmington, IL, brothers; Harry Slayton and Donald Mac Slayton of Ardmore, AL, David Slayton of Hammond, IN and Chester Slayton of Fayetteville, sisters; Sherry Cloud of Clouds Cove, AL, Vivian Crane of Madison, AL, and Linda Gayle of Huntsville, AL, half-brothers Danny Slayton of Fayetteville and Ricky Slayton of Hazel Green, half-sisters; Evie Doud of Elora, Violet Summers of Fayetteville and Criss Stayton of Elora, five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Mr. Slayton was preceded in death by a son Kerry Slayton and a half-brother Lanny Slayton, two brothers Leslie and Jimmie Slayton.
Visitation with the family will be Wednesday evening 5-8PM at Higgins Funeral Home.
In Billy Graham’s book “Nearing Home – Life, Faith and Finishing Well” he states; “Someday our life’s journey will be over. In a sense we all are nearing home. As we do so, I pray that you and I may not only learn what it means to grow older but, with God’s help, also learn to grow older with grace and find the guidance needed to finish well.
I dearly love Ray. His journey was not always an easy one, but he traveled it with courage, faithfulness to his Lord and a genuine love of family & friends. He instilled inspiration into my heart each time I talked with him. Truly Ray fulfilled his journey with grace and finished well.
My heart is with Mary, her children and all the family. We are blessed as a family to have had Ray in our lives.
Well done Ray!
Sorry to hear about Mr.Slayton, My Mother really loved him{Lucille Coats} My prayers are with you all.
THE JOURNEY HOME…..
There’s a path that leads to a turn in the road, and we each must travel there, Where the Father waits to take us home to the shelter of his care.
my family had the best friendship for many years, when Mary, Ray, Dickey & Kerry found their way to our town. so many happy times on the farm.
hope you all accept our deepest, and heartfelt sympathy
love, Fran, Bill and Ashten