Memorials › Rev Willie Ray Perkins

Rev Willie Ray Perkins

23 Oct 1915 – 21 Aug 2007

Birth23 Oct 1915
Death21 Aug 2007
CemeteryGravel Hill Cemetery
Vernon Parish , Louisiana , USA
Added byJean plummer on 14 Feb 2010
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21121317

Bio

Willie Ray Perkins [Written by Press-Herald Staff ~ Thursday, 23 August 2007] Funeral services for the Rev. Willie Ray Perkins, 91, of DeRidder, formerly of Minden, will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2007 at Gravel Hill Baptist Church in Pitkin with Dr. Glen Cooley, a long-time friend, and Bro. Smith, officiating. Interment will follow at Gravel Hill Cemetery under the direction of Colonial Myers funeral home. Visitation will be held from 5 until 9 p.m. at the funeral home in DeRidder and from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 25, at Gravel Hill Church. Bro. Perkins was born in Juanita on Oct. 23, 1915 and passed from this world to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, August 21, in Lake Charles. He was preceded in death by his parents, Monroe V. Perkins and Sina James Perkins; wife of 61 years, Ednie McMullen Perkins on May 15, 2006; two infant daughters, Nellie and Renee Perkins; two sisters, Blanche Perkins Gaynard and Allie Perkins Fontenot; and five brothers, Edison Perkins, Johnny Perkins, Jesse Perkins, Alvin Perkins Sr. and Garrett Perkins. He is survived by one brother, Eugene Perkins and wife Winnie of Vinton; four children, Mary Oneta Perkins Brooks and husband Carl W. Brooks of Leesville, H. Jack Perkins, D.Min. and wife Janet of Broken Arrow, Okla., Peggy Lee Perkins Hines and husband Carl Hines, M.D. of Minden, and James Edison Perkins and fiancée Debbie McClain of DeRidder. Survivors also include his grandchildren, Missy Brooks Root and husband Terry of Baton Rouge, Stacey Brooks and wife Sonya, who was Paw Paw's favorite Speech Pathologist of Lake Charles, Wendy Perkins Helm and husband Jason of Owasso, Okla., Jason Perkins of Zephyrhills, Fla., Dorie Bailey and husband Rick, Jonathan James Perkins of DeRidder, Nat Hines and wife Jennee of Budd Luke, N.J. and Sonya Hines Fitts and husband Darrell Jr. of Conway, Ark. His great-grandchildren are Katie, Sean and Mattie Root; Ashley Perkins; Christopher Helm; Emily, Madeline and Lizzie Hines; Kimberlyn, Maggie and Kobe Fitts; and Devin Richard. Bro. Willie, as he was known by many, grew up in Vernon Parish attending Gravel Hill School. He joined the Army in 1935 and when discharged he joined the Army Air Corp. and was in the Philippines when WWII was declared. Subsequently he fought in the Battle of Corriqdor and was a part of the Bataan Death March. He then spent three and one-half years in Japanese POW camps. After the war he returned to Louisiana and married his bride who had been waiting for him. He went to work for Civil Service at Fort Polk and continued there until his retirement in 1974. During this time he also owned two convenience stores with car repair shops where he worked after hours. Bro. Perkins was a member of the Grand Lodge of the Odd Fellows, the VFW and a life member of the American Legion. Bro. Perkins was a Christian and supported several churches in Vernon Parish both spiritually and at times physically helping to rebuild them. Although he had been active in churches in DeRidder and the surrounding area, it was in 1964 that Marlow Baptist ordained him as a minister. As a bi-vocational pastor he served Marlow Church, Freedom Rest Baptist, as well as Antioch in Slagle, the church in Turnerville and others. He served in many capacities in associational work. During the time he spent in assisted care facilities he led a Bible Study group and he was a Gravel Hill Baptist Church Cemetery Committee member until his death. He was a member of First Baptist Church in DeRidder. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, First Baptist Church of DeRidder, First Baptist of Minden, the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home in Monroe or the charity of choice. There will be full military honors at Gravel Hill Baptist Church Cemetery following service.

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