When the time comes to bid this life farewell, we should find comfort in knowing that a loving God will be there with us to guide us to our new home.

https://my.gather.app/remember/donald-ray-west 

Click here to view funeral program for Donald Ray West

Sometime between 9:56 AM Tuesday and 10:22 AM Wednesday Donald Ray slipped out of the mortal suit that we all need to dwell here and into the immortal one that has a lot less patches and loose threads. Waiting to meet him with his new outfit was his mother: Eva Elizabeth Hooker West; his father: Wallace West; nieces Morgan Brown and Courdeja West.

While leaving the rest of us in the fitting room trying on our new set of duds that are most definitely on the rack of time getting the hems sewn just right – custom fit – special order from birth. A set for his sister, Annette Marie West Brown (Joseph), brother, Wallace Henry West (Stella Ragland, Pam Randolph), brother, Malcolm Wayne West, his twin Donna Faye West Goolsby (Cedric Forehand, Rodney Goolsby), brother Michael Winfred West (Barbara), nieces: Deetra West, Educator Marci Brown (Grambling State Marching Band Musician), Naomi Forehand; nephews: Wallace H. West, Jr., Shawn O’Neal West, Jarrad and Daniel P. Brown, Cedric Jr. and Christian Forehand; great nieces great-great nieces, great nephews, great-great nephews, paternal aunt: Alreatha West Parker; maternal aunt: Ophelia Hooker Thomas (Overn); maternal aunt-in-law: Phyllis Hooker (Malcolm); a host of cousins and friends; step son: Chris Carter (Brandy); father to Louisa sport stand outs, Rutgers football coach and his brother heading that way next fall to carry on playing football and female track star, Dezmajia – Chris’s sister – Shade’ Carter; step Papa to Lamia, Lamez, and Lamuel Moore (another athlete on his way to greatness!), one of the lead mechanics at Albert’s Garage he is going to be missed and cherished by those he met there, Mr. Bones and Allen wrench Shelton, Chad O’Neal Shelton (Dee Dee Walker), Curtis, Ty, and Selena, Neighbors Roy Beck (Maria, Sermaj), Roger Shelton (Patricia), Larry Johnson, The Mickens family, Roy Harris (Bertha) and family; love you Twiggy and Shawn (Tory), George Robert (Fannie Mae) and Bob boys, Twiglenda’s sons: Dada, Quentin, and homecoming king: Jahmere Ragland (Louisa Football); Ray’s favorite football team (UVA), Washington Commanders: and of course at the high school level, THE Louisa Lions; step nephew: Travius O’Neal Yancey (Malcolm).

While his sister, Annette was 1 of 13 to help to stop the BYRD MACHINE break Jim Crows Back and open up the coffers to moneys for all of Louisa in 1965 during Freedom of Choice years. Later Ray was 1 of 4 to get on the bus to Mineral Elementary School before integration in the 1970. Yes, before beautiful Lake Anna, we were there. In our neighborhood we were the ‘Leave it to Beaver’ family but on the bus it was something else every day. After school Ray joined the army as a tank driver in the Armor Division both here and while stationed in Germany. Following his military service, Ray was employed at Liberty Fabrics in Gordonsville.

Ray became a member of the Rising Sun Baptist Church at an early age due to his Grandpa being a pastor and preaching at (Reverend P. H. West’s words) all the churches around.

Ray loved fishing, music, cars, sports, chess, hunting, and people. His twin, Donna Faye and he could communicate with even after doctors and nurses would differ. She could get him to blink yes and no answers, smile, and he could sense her coming into the facility and would cry when she would leave. There are videos and pictures to prove this bond. They would say or ask each other what’s happening or say that they were TWINNING!

Also preceding him were his maternal grandparents: Malcolm Duncan and Annie Elizabeth Hooker; 1 maternal uncle: Malcolm (Phyllis), 2 maternal aunts: Gloria Robertson (Harry) and Laura Harris (Andrew); paternal grandparents: Reverend Patrick Henry and Eva Bell Anderson West; paternal uncles: his father’s twin – Willis, Patrick Henry, Jr., and Wesley Wayne West; aunts: Pauline Gwaltney (Arthur), Ethel Brown (Robert and James).

He also leaves cherished memories to: Chris and Brandy Alexander, DeQuece Carter, Dezmajja, Dyzier Carter and D’veraye Carter; and a special friend, Alison McAfee.

To the West family, we at D. D. Watson offer our most sincere sympathy and condolences. Our prayer continues to be that your abiding faith in God will lend to you a measure of comfort that will strengthen and sustain you during your time of sorrow.

It is during such times as these that we draw upon our faith, stand upon our scriptures, and rely upon our God. There is no question that in this and through this, God will keep you, comfort you, and sustain you. You and your family are forever in our prayers.