Linda (Middleton) Duff Ray, 83, affectionately known as Granny, departed this Earth on August 5, 2024. She was born on September 19, 1940 in Lynchburg to Paul Edward and Nona Crouch Middleton.
She was the proud sister of Betty Hudson, Jack Middleton and the late Nancy Ferguson.
Linda was a dedicated employee of GE (Ericcson) for 30 years where she retired in 1999.
Linda is survived by her husband, Leslie Perry Ray and her children Sherri Wingfield, Dwayne Duff and Kevin Ray (Kate Bausman) and Delano Smith. 10 grandchildren she adored, Leslie Camden, Lauren Tasker (Rocky), Micheal Cooper (Nikki), Megan Ringi (Pelle), Mallory Hill (Ahmond), Edward Duff (Katelynn), Nevaeh and Easton Smith. 12 great-grandchildren with whom she continued her loving ways, Aiden, Addy and Acelyn Camden, Ava, Axton and Asher Ringi, Bella Cooper, Griffin Overstreet, Willow Myers, Andre, Aris and Arya Hill and Edward Thomas Duff and loved ones Jon Miles and Rose Leonard.
While all grandmothers are made of gold, ours glittered and she sprinkled that love (glitter) on us everyday. Granny was commonly found watching her "stories" in her plaid button downs, pulling weeds from her garden, attending school functions or ball games or working her crossword puzzle books. She was our family's Walmart diva...if she wasn't at home she was at Walmart! If you needed cases of water, diapers for the baby or peppermint patties she was your girl. Christmas lunches were made special by her oyster stew, spinach dip, sausage balls, envelopes filled with cash and the year's Holiday collector Barbie. She was the hostess of family Sunday dinners served promptly at 5 pm and if you weren't there by 4:55 she was ringing your phone asking "where the hell are you at? Dinners ready." and before you had time to respond she had already hung up. She was the first voice you heard every year on your birthday and faithfully gave wake up calls to her son even though he was 50! She made daily lunches for her great grandson all thru school including college and she was still the person we bought clothes to when we couldn't get a stubborn stain out...she always made laundry smell so amazing! If we were sick and our phone rang it was Granny asking if we needed anything or forcefully trying to convince us to go to the doctor. And it never failed, a gold Taurus would show up in your driveway unexpectedly and it was Granny with a gingerale in hand, 2 bags of groceries and an offer to watch your babies so you could rest. The sweet memories of car rides where she would turn up the radio and really get into "Rockin Robin" or soulfully sing along with Randy Travis, the yearly trips to the mall to buy our Easter dresses, Toys R Us trips to look at the Barbie's and nights playing Rummy. There of course were the times she fussed. "I told you to stay away from those people. They ain't no good.", "You don't need to go out. You need to be at home with those kids." "That damn ballfield. You are gonna rot on that damn ballfield." "Do you talk to everyone with that mouth?" "Why do you put all those tattoos all over your body?" and times she would call us out on our responses with her classic one liner "Sheeeiitt". The memory we will miss the most is watching her walk across the yard to Sherri's in her black Crocs to see who and why someone was there! She taught us to never buy generic, always separate your whites, there is no such thing as too much fabric softener, the importance of dating the back of pictures and never leave dirty dishes in the sink for the next day. She loved sapphires, fenton glass, birds and taking care of her entire family. Granny truly had a heart of gold. She was the most devoted wife and loving mother and grandmother. We were truly the lucky ones.
We would like to thank the staff of 6 Hearthside for their love and laughs the past month. We hope you all remember her feisty spirit for days to come. You all made her smile and laugh and for that we are grateful. Special friends who dedicated their time and love to Granny and our family during her recent illness, Susan Vest, Darrell Cash, Millie Schaffer and Bryan Shackelford. There aren't enough words to show our appreciation. In our best Granny voice " What's it to ya?" Memorial contributions can be made in Granny's honor to the Lynchburg Food Bank or Miriam's House. The family will receive friends at the residence, 481 Amelon Rd Madison Heights, VA Saturday afternoon beginning at 4 P.M.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.
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