Billy Ray Daughtry, Sr.

Billy Ray Daughtry, Sr., 81, passed away peacefully on September 23, 2017.

 He was born on October 27, 1935 to Lou Allie Daughtry and Mangrum Earl Daughtry in Sampson County. He was raised in Sampson County and graduated from Herring High School.

Billy Ray attended East Carolina University and Coyne Electrical School in Chicago.  He farmed the land he was raised on until he was fifty years old. He then went to work for Hog Slat and worked there for another seventeen years. While working he was on the Sampson County School Board of Education serving in various ways for 20 years including as a chairman. Throughout his career as a Construction Engineer for Hog Slat he oversaw hog houses being built all over the Eastern United States. He was instrumental in encouraging and guiding farm owners to opportunities in the new hog farm era of owning hog houses.  He retired at 67 and thoroughly enjoyed this time with his wife, Sandra, until he was seventy-seven.  Since then he has struggled with the challenging life of living on dialysis. 

Billy Ray was married to Sandra Baggett Daughtry in 1958. They have spent fifty-nine years together. They have enjoyed spending time at White Lake and Oak Island over the years. Billy Ray also loved fishing at the Outer Banks and in his fishing boat anywhere it would take him. They both cherished the time that each grandchild was born and have enjoyed being around as they grew up. They have also been members of Westbrook Grange and the Woodmen of the World in Newton Grove. He was a Shriner and a member of the Masonic Lodge of Newton Grove for over fifty years.

Billy Ray was a lifetime member of Shady Grove Church and he loved his church and the church members there.

Billy Ray was preceded in death by his mother, Lou Allie Daughtry, his father, Mangrum Earl Daughtry, two grandchildren, Ram Martin Denning, Ann Daughtry Denning and his brother Charles Earl Daughtry. He is survived by his wife, Sandra Baggett Daughtry, two children, Billy Ray Daughtry Jr. (Bill) and wife Debbie Daughtry; and Kim Denning and son-in-law, Martin A Denning (Tony). Grandchildren, Lindsay Daughtry Owens and husband Josh Owens, Billy Ray Daughtry III (Trey), Ali Marilee Denning, and Kenan Johnson Denning. A brother, Gary Mac Daughtry. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank all of their family and friends for the love shown to them during Billy Ray’s illness. The staffs at Wayne Memorial Hospital and Liberty Commons gave excellent care while allowing him to transition to the next phase of his eternal life.

The family will receive friends at Shady Grove Free Will Baptist Church on Monday, September 25, 2017 from 6 to 8 pm. A celebration of his life will be held at, at Shady Grove Free Will Baptist Church on Tuesday, September 26 at 11:00 am, with the Rev. Chris Hall and Dr. Ken Benton officiating. Burial will follow at Shady Grove Cemetery where he will receive Masonic rites.

Flowers are welcome, memorials may be made to Shady Grove Free Will Baptist Church.

Services have been entrusted to West & Dunn Funeral Home, Newton Grove, NC.