Ms. Avis "Nikki" Gaither Ray, 57, of 2084 Bluff View Drive , Winston-Salem , NC went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, September 1, 2007 at Forsyth Medical Center following a brief illness. She was born May 20, 1950 to Elizabeth Gaither and Ulysses White.

Ms. Ray was a lifelong resident of Winston-Salem , NC and a graduate of Atkins High School . Determined to be a college graduate, Ms. Ray received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from Shaw University in May 1995. During the course of her career, she worked at Wachovia Bank, the North Carolina School of the Arts, and Winston-Salem State University where she was retired from the Department of Life Long Learning. She returned temporarily earlier this year to Winston-Salem State as an administrative assistant in the College of Arts and Science Distance Learning program.

An extension of her career also included modeling for Models in Motion and the Winston-Salem State University Evening of Elegance Fundraisers. In her Christian commitment, Ms. Ray was a faithful and dedicated member of Mount Zion Baptist Church where she was a devoted member of the Inspirational Choir.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Gettis and Jeffrey Gaither; and her grandparents, Charlie and Willie White Barnett.

To cherish her memories are her only beloved son, Darryl Ray; an uncle whom she regarded as a father figure and cousin, James "Bill" Barnett; a mother figure, Odessa hunter all of Winston-Salem, NC; a brother, Renaldo Gaither of Washington, DC; a sister, Wanda Little of New York; two aunts, Frankie Pressley and Hazel Gaither of Washington, DC; and a very special godson, Harry Reid, Jr. currently stationed in Iraq. Ms. Ray had many cousins whom she looked upon as sisters and brothers including Solomon (Barbara) Green, Eugene (Wendy) Green, Janice Green, Clark (LaVerne) Gaither, Aldrenia Gaither, Veronica and Letisha Jones, and Oliver White, all of Winston-Salem, NC; other cousins include, Melvin Green of New York, and Wada (Jake) Gadson of Silver Spring, MD, and Mason White, Jr. of Fayetteville, NC and Brenda Taylor of Greensboro, NC. Ms. Ray had many other relatives' extended family and special friends.

Homegoing services will be held at 1 pm Saturday, September 8, 2007 at Mount Zion Baptist Church , Dr. Serenus T. Churn, officiating. Interment will follow in Piedmont Memorial Gardens . Family visitation will be held from 12 noon until 1 pm Saturday at the church.

"The family would like to say a special thank you for all the prayers, love cards, and caring thoughts during Ms. Ray's illness. To God be the Glory for the life of Avis Gaither Ray. She was a joy in our lives."