Brenda Ray Jones

Brenda Sue Ray Jones
July 1, 1943 – September 1, 2026

ZEBULON – Brenda Ray Jones “Granny” of the Pilot community made a peaceful exit from this earth on September 1st, just 2 short months after celebrating her 83rd birthday. She was born in Franklin County to the late Clifton Joseph Ray & Frances Medlin Ray. She was a graduate of Bunn High School and continued to support the Bunn school community through serving on the BES PTA, volunteering in classrooms and supporting all Bunn sports.

She fell hard for a farmer, and they spent 63 years loving hard, working hard, laughing hard, and often-times yelling loudly. Her favorite thing to yell was, “Ed”!
Granny loved many things: Jesus, her family, Cheetos, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and all things sports. She worked many years in the medical profession, assisting with surgery and providing post-op care for her patients. She loved young people, coaching hundreds of girls in softball, often packing the car with well over 15 girls and heading off to the next game. Granny served as a youth Sunday School teacher and was an honorary member of the church youth group, being first to load the bus for all the youth trips, dragging with her a crochet kit and bag of snacks.

Family was the center of her life, and she always looked forward to spending time with her daughters, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She especially loved the annual family vacation to White Lake. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Bobby Milton Ray, Norwood Boyce Ray, her sister and partner in crime, Annie Bell Ray Tant, and sons in law Hilary Pearce and Walter Mitchell.

A celebration of her life will begin at 5:00pm on Monday, September 7, 2026, in the Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory Chapel, Wendell, NC with visitation from 3:00pm to 4:45pm prior to the service. The family requests that you come dressed casually in your favorite sports attire in remembrance and honor of Granny and her love for the game.

Brenda leaves behind her husband Charles Edgar Jones, daughters, Carol Pearce, Susan Lockleair (Johnny), Tera Booker (Steve), Devin Mitchell, Jamie Richardson (Jess) and her brother, Rex Barbour Ray (Sue). She is also survived by a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren: Kari Pearce, Victoria Young (Jake), Johnathan Lockleair, Noah Joyner, Isaac Pittman, Joseph Joyner, Elijah Pittman, Morgan Laroque (Webb), Alvaro Lopez, Kennady Whitley, Alana Young, Nathan Young, Tatum Young, and Sadie Laroque.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Franklin County Mission: Abundant Blessings, 537 W Gannon Ave. Zebulon, NC 27597.

Arrangements are with Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, 211 W. Third St., Wendell. www.stricklandfuneral.com