Minnie Ray West

Minnie Ray was born on June 27, 1920 in Craven County. She grew up on the school grounds (Central School) in New Bern, NC in a little brick house with a white picket fence to keep children out of their yard. Her father William Henry Fillingame was the Superintendent of the building and grounds for New Bern city schools. Her mother Mamie Edith Summerell was a homemaker and Sunday school teacher.

The family grew up attending Broad Street Christian Church where Minnie Ray was baptized at 11 years old and taught Sunday school for many years. She met Johnny Robert West when she was 14 years old and it was love at first sight for both of them. Minnie Ray thought he was fairly good looking. They dated for some time and Johnny decided to join the U.S. Navy. Minnie Ray refused to follow him around the country, so she impatiently waited until his return home and they married on July 4, 1940 in Williamston, NC. Minnie Ray worked as a file clerk for WPA in New Bern and worked for West Haven housing development after they moved to Portsmouth, VA. In 1943 they moved to New Bern with their new daughter Phyllis Ann. They lived on New Street where their home became the “hang out” house for all the neighborhood kids. In 1964 they moved to Oaks Road where they called their home “West Haven” where they hosted many parties, cookouts and enjoyed eating grapes under the vines with family and friends. It was at West Haven that Nanny and Granddaddy hosted many summer camps for Johnette and Julian. Minnie Ray and Johnny moved to White Stone a Masonic and Eastern Star community and it has been her home for more than 30 years. They had a wonderful life of travel and activities and made many dear friends. Minnie Ray became very talented making ceramics, which she gave to family and friends. She was a member of the Order of The Eastern Star Chapter 129. While at White Stone she was adopted by Edith Chapter 160 in Cary, NC and Jonesboro Heights Chapter 310 in Sanford, NC where she met her dear friend Shirley Lambert.

She is preceded in death by her husband and a granddaughter, Johnette Ballenger Sowder.

She is survived by her daughter, Phyllis West Chancellor (Bill) of Louisburg, NC, grandson, Kenneth Julian Ballenger, and two great-grandchildren, Anamarie and Harmony Ballenger. She is also survived by her former son in-law Kenneth R. Ballenger. Other family member include, David and Alicia Cox and Heather, Lee and Sue Cox, Bobby and Barbara Holton, and Ikey and Alice Holton.

We will miss her grounded, positive outlook, her timeless expressions, the wisdom of her stories and her laughter. She was our moral compass and our heart.

“I know not what the future holds, but I know who holds my future.”

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 pm Friday, September 4, 2020 at Cotten Funeral Home Chapel with burial in Cedar Grove Ext.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to NC Masonic Foundation LLC 700 S. Holden Rd., Greensboro, NC 27407 or to the Shirley Foster Sunday School Class at Broad Street Christian Church, 801 Broad Street, New Bern, NC 28560.

Arrangements are by Cotten Funeral Home & Crematory. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.cottenfuneralhome.com