RAYMOND ANDREW WINTERS, age 68, of Ethelsville, AL passed away at the residence of his sister on Oct 10, 2013, surrounded by family, after a hard fought bout with prostate cancer. The funeral service will be conducted at 3:00 pm on Sunday, at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Columbus, MS., led by Dr. Reed Winters Shepherd, nephew and pastor of First Baptist Oak Grove, KY, and Dr. Bill Hurt, pastor at Pleasant Hill. Visitation will precede the service, starting at 1:00 pm. Burial will be in the Forest Cemetery, Ethelsville, AL. Gunter-Peel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements Born May 13, 1945, in West Point, MS to the late Ivy Lewis and Onzelle Cummins Winters, he was the step-son of Earl Young. Raymond attended West Point High School and East MS Junior College. He worked in mens clothing, was a meter reader for East Lowndes Water Assoc for a number of years, led church music, and most recently worked part-time at Reeds Dept Store in Columbus, among other jobs throughout his life. He was a dedicated member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, a member of the Forest Community Center, a long time member of the Forest Volunteer Fire Dept, and a volunteer at the Forest UMC Food Pantry. In addition to his parents, Mr. Winters was preceded in death by his brothers, Ivy Lewis Winters, Jr, Preston, Hansel, Everett and Robert Winters and sister, Jewel W. Gardner. Survivors include brother, Clayton P Winters and sister-in-law, Louise Winters of Akron, AL; sister, Marie W Shepherd of Princeton, KY, sisters and brothers-in-law, Maxine and Bill Wiggins of Signal Mtn, TN, and Kathleen and Charlie Griffin of Ethelsville, AL; nieces and nephews, Milford Walters, Pam Owens, Paralee Kelley, Linda Johnson, Jon Thomas Shepherd, Jonette Shepherd, Reed Shepherd, Gaye Patton, Bill Hood, Jr, Jenny Childs, Daniel Griffin, Charlie P Griffin, Daisy Griffin, Rivers Griffin, Sarah Ballenger, Mary Ann Richardson, Janice Clayton, John Winters, Doug Winters, Linda Lavender, Susan Cowgill, June Peterson, Katherine McCracken, and a host of great and great-great nieces and nephews, including Max and Ann Gardner. Pallbearers will be Jon Thomas Shepherd, Charlie P Griffin, Rivers Griffin, Jon Everett Shepherd, Bryon Kelley, and Josh Johnson. Honorary Pallbearers are close friends, Jerry Givens, Tommy Givens, Hayes Gore, Ray Richard, former co-workers, and members of the Joy Sunday School Class. Memorials may be made to the Pleasant Hill Bus Ministry, 1383 Pleasant Hill Rd, Columbus, MS 39702; Southern Care Hospice,3835 Watermelon Rd, Suite 3, Northport, AL 35473; or the Forest UMC Food Pantry, 111 County Rd 89, Ethelsville, AL 35461
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