Mr. George Ray Houston

Mr. George Ray Houston, 79, of Sylvester, died on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, October 20, 2023, at the First Baptist Church of Sylvester, interment will follow in the Hillcrest Cemetery. The Rev. Donnie Duncan and Rev. Bobby Joe Brown will officiate. Mr. Houston was born on April 22, 1944 in Sylvester, Georgia, to the late John Edward and Janey Lee "Lydia" Mims Houston. He had lived in Worth County all of his life and graduated from Worth County High School, where he was a member of the of the first Worth County High School Ram Band being awarded the John Philip Sousa Band Award, and also attended the University of Mississippi. Mr. Houston was the recipient of the Editor's Choice award for best poem "Irish Sunset" in the book anthology "Immortal Verses". His Poems have been published in magazines, book anthologies, newspapers, and eleven books or volumes of verse. Mr. Houston was drafted into the United States Army in February of 1966 and was trained in the heavy field artillery and was stationed in Germany with the 2nd Battalion, 39th Heavy Field Artillery and the 3rd Infantry Marne Division. This led to him serving a career and later retiring from the United States Civil Service Commission. Mr. Houston married Mrs. Virginia Johns "Ginger" Parker Houston on September 6, 1969 and were married for 47 years until her passing on March 30, 2016. Mr. Houston was a charter member, officer, bugler, and poet laureate of The Yancey Independents Sons of Confederate Veterans in Worth County, a member of The First Baptist Church in Sylvester, and also a member of the Worth County Historical Society. Survivors include his daughter, Kristy Maddox of Sylvester; grandchildren, Ashlee Nicole Busbin, Selena Busbin and William Coy "Will" Maddox Jr.; a special friend, Kay Mullis; and a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family. The Confederate flag that draped Mr. Houston's casket was given to him by the late Charles Riner. In addition to his parents, Mr. Houston was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Parker "Ginger" Houston and also by his brothers, John Edward Houston, III and James William Houston. The family will receive friends on Thursday, October 20, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Banks Funeral Home. Pallbearers for the service include, Keith Houston, Ronnie Chapman, Jerry Etheredge, Rodney Hutchinson, Bo Slack, Jerry White and a honorary pallbearer, Ray Hathcock. Please sign our online guest registry at www.banksfh.com. Banks Funeral Home in Sylvester is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. George Ray Houston

April 22, 1944 - October 17, 2023