Ray Edward Pennell, Jr.

Ray Edward 'Eddie' Pennell, Jr. 65, of Thomasville, NC, passed away suddenly on Friday, August 30th of a massive heart attack. He was born in Winston-Salem, NC on July 30th, 1948, to the late Ray E. Pennell, Sr. and the late Mary 'Polly' Pope Pennell. He was the second of five siblings. On November 22nd, 1969, he married Shirley Kay Nifong who survives. He attended Ledford High School in Thomasville, NC and was employed at RJ Reynolds for 32 years. He loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman and deer hunter. He was also a wildlife rehabilitator. At various times, he and his wife raised white-tail deer, fallow deer, flying sugar squirrels, gray squirrels, an albino ferret named Sugar Bear, numerous birds, and a Himalayan Bear named Freddie. He loved his grandchildren, especially Tanner who lived with him and who he was helping to raise as his own. Tanner called him Pawpaw Daddy. After having two biological children of their own, Eddie Ray and Robin, they became parents to 27 foster children, adopting 6 of them. In addition to his wife, he is survived by eight children - Ray Edward 'Eddie Ray' Pennell, III and fiancée, Angela Perryman, Robin Suzanne Pennell, Crystal Alyse Pennell, John Robert 'Robbie' Pennell, Sarah Elizabeth Pennell Miller and husband Chris Miller, Derick Wayne Pennell and fiancée Sophia Wark, Michael Tyler Pennell and wife Delana Edwards Pennell, and Tonya Danielle Pennell and fiancée John Sprinkle; four grandchildren - J.P. Pennell, Montana Alexander 'Tanner' Pennell, Blake William Edwards, and Addison Lynn Pennell. Eddie is also survived by one brother - Rickie Wayne Pennell and wife, Brenda Nifong Pennell; two sister-in-laws, Dana's wife, Cynthia 'Cindy' New Pennell and Sandra Nifong Sink and husband, Keith Sink; four nieces, four nephews, six great nieces and nephews with two on the way. He was preceded in death by three brothers, John Lee Pennell, Gary Alan Pennell and Dana Keith Pennell. The family will receive friends at Hayworth Miller Funeral Home on Monday, September 2nd, 2013 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and at other times at Shirley and Eddie's home. Burial will follow a graveside service on Tuesday, September 3rd, 2013 at 2:00 PM at New Friendship Baptist Church on Old Lexington Road, Winston-Salem, NC.

Cemetery:
New Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery

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