Rayford Marl Dennis passed away peacefully on Monday, July 23, 2018 at the age of 89. Funeral services will be held at Snow’s Memorial Chapel, 746 Cherry Street in Macon at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 26, followed by a luncheon. An interment ceremony will be held at the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Wounded Warriors, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8715 or donor’s favorite charity.
Rayford was born on November 23, 1928 in Dothan, Alabama to Bertha Pitts and Marl Dennis. He was the youngest of six children. He graduated from Dothan High School in 1947 where he participated in football. He also played coronet in the high school band and a dance band. Rayford attended college at Auburn University, graduating in 1951. He played defensive end for the Tigers and has remained an avid football fan his entire life. He was a member of Sigma Pi Epsilon fraternity.
Rayford achieved the rank of 1st Lieutenant after attending artillery school at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. He served as a battery commander in the Korean War. He was wounded in action and awarded the purple heart, as well as the Korean service medal and the United National service medal. After his discharge from the army in 1954, Rayford went on to a career as a salesman specializing in agricultural chemicals. He was a valued employee of American Cyanamid Inc., retiring after 39 years. On December 26, 1955 he married Posey Dees, his wife of 63 years. They lived in Pensacola, FL; Birmingham, AL; and Indianola, MS before settling in Macon where they lived together for 52 years.
Rayford is survived by his wife, Posey, his brother, George, and his four children, Steve, Liz, Nancy and Stuart, as well as nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Lowell, sister Bobbie and two siblings who died in infancy.
The family would like to thank the administration and staff at Bolingreen Health and Rehabilitation for their diligent and caring services.
Visit www.snowscs.com to express condolences.
Snow’s Memorial Chapel, Cherry Street, has charge of arrangements.
