Obituary for Dillard Ray Maples
Dillard Ray Maples, 74, of Byhalia, MS, passed away on Thursday, August 26, 2021, at Baptist Memorial Hospital – DeSoto in Southaven, MS.
Ray was born on September 12, 1946, in Batesville, MS, to Ethel Martin Maples and Bessie Lee (Wolf) Maples. He lived a faithful Christian life, until the angels carried him into Abraham’s bosom. He was a member of Olive Branch Church of Christ and a veteran of the MS National Guard. He was a graduate of North Panola High School, located in Sardis, MS, and later attended MS State Highway Patrol Training Academy and Memphis Police Academy.
In 1968, Ray began his career with the Memphis Police Department, where he served as an officer until his retirement. Formerly, he served in the Army National Guard (1965-1971) and worked at Memphis Light, Gas, and Water (1965-1968). He was widely known for his many prominent positions, such as the President of the Memphis Policeman’s Association, President of Law Officers for Tennessee, and Chairman of the Memphis Police Association Negotiating Team (1980-1994). He was listed in Marquis Who’s Who, as a noteworthy Police Association President. He also served on the State of Tennessee Parole Board (1996-2004).
Ray applied his great ability to the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Job Training Council, the Lupus Foundation, the State Legislation in Nashville, Leadership Memphis, the Board of Directors for Neighborhood Watch, Inc., the National Rifle Association, and the National Wild Turkey Federation. His professional honors include Honorary Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives (1981), Honorary Shelby County Commissioner (1985), Honorary Memphis City Councilman (1985), and Honorary Deputy Sheriff (1985).
Ray became a Christian at age 55, and immediately focused his attention on studying the Bible and enrolling in the Memphis School of Preaching. He went on mission trips to India, accompanied by his grandson, Dylan. He and a former classmate at MSOP, Stephen Sutton, spent three weeks in India preaching and teaching God’s Word. Stephen recently said of Ray, “He was the most evangelistic person I’ve ever met in my life.” Ray maintained Bible correspondence course students and sent the book, Muscle and A Shove, Muscle and A Shovel, to so many of his friends and former associates, that supplies were exhausted not only in Memphis Christian bookstores, but as far away as Chattanooga. The Christian bookstore owner was aware of Ray’s efforts using that teaching tool. Ray would not only send the book, but he would write a personal letter to each recipient urging him to read and consider the material. Ray liked texting and learned how to blast texts with Bible teachings to many people at once. His professional accomplishments in him paled in comparison to his work for the Lord in teaching the Bible.
He was particularly proud of his long-time friend and former Chief of the Memphis Fire Department, J.R. Boatwright, for obeying the gospel at age 90. Ray drew on the political contacts he knew to obtain permission from the Shelby County Attorney, for the Gospel Broadcasting Network, to have exclusive rights for 50 years, to bring its satellite signal into the Shelby County Penal Farm to its 3,800 inmates. Although he was coping with leukemia, Ray and a couple of his friends personally installed satellite dishes and ran necessary cabling to the Penal Farm’s 13 buildings, in the 90-degree heat. He installed a big screen TV for people to see GBN in the chapel at the Penal Farm, and was assisted by 2 inmates, one of whom had years before broken into Ray’s house! He insisted that inmate not only take a Bible correspondence course but, made sure that he completed it.
Ray enjoyed bee keeping, hunting deer and turkey, cutting grass—at home and for others, working in his garden, fishing, He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and even teaching Shelby to play golf.
The apostle John wrote in the last book of the Bible, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them” (Revelation 14:13).
Left to cherish his memory is his loving family, which includes his son-in-law, Travis Cooper of Byhalia, MS; four grandchildren, Caroline Parkes, Hayley Elizabeth Cooper Heckler, Travis Dylan Cooper, and Shelby Leigh Cooper; seven great-grandchildren, Luke Arnold, Elleigh-Ann Arnold, Jaxon Heckler, Abigail Heckler, Kavanna Heckler, Talon Parkes and Rowan Parkes; and two stepchildren, Michael Hart and Nancy Robinson. He was preceded in death by his wife, Brenda Sue Parris Maples; two daughters, Sandra Kay Maples and Donna Leigh Maples; one brother, Melton Roy Maples, and his parents.
Visitation will be on Thursday, September 2, 2021, from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. at Olive Branch Church of Christ. Funeral services will follow at 12 p.m. Internment will be for family and close friends only, at Fulmer Cemetery in Harmontown (Panola County).
Memorial contributions may be made in Ray’s memory, to Memphis School of Preaching.
Ray-Nowell Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with his services.
Ray was born on September 12, 1946, in Batesville, MS, to Ethel Martin Maples and Bessie Lee (Wolf) Maples. He lived a faithful Christian life, until the angels carried him into Abraham’s bosom. He was a member of Olive Branch Church of Christ and a veteran of the MS National Guard. He was a graduate of North Panola High School, located in Sardis, MS, and later attended MS State Highway Patrol Training Academy and Memphis Police Academy.
In 1968, Ray began his career with the Memphis Police Department, where he served as an officer until his retirement. Formerly, he served in the Army National Guard (1965-1971) and worked at Memphis Light, Gas, and Water (1965-1968). He was widely known for his many prominent positions, such as the President of the Memphis Policeman’s Association, President of Law Officers for Tennessee, and Chairman of the Memphis Police Association Negotiating Team (1980-1994). He was listed in Marquis Who’s Who, as a noteworthy Police Association President. He also served on the State of Tennessee Parole Board (1996-2004).
Ray applied his great ability to the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Job Training Council, the Lupus Foundation, the State Legislation in Nashville, Leadership Memphis, the Board of Directors for Neighborhood Watch, Inc., the National Rifle Association, and the National Wild Turkey Federation. His professional honors include Honorary Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives (1981), Honorary Shelby County Commissioner (1985), Honorary Memphis City Councilman (1985), and Honorary Deputy Sheriff (1985).
Ray became a Christian at age 55, and immediately focused his attention on studying the Bible and enrolling in the Memphis School of Preaching. He went on mission trips to India, accompanied by his grandson, Dylan. He and a former classmate at MSOP, Stephen Sutton, spent three weeks in India preaching and teaching God’s Word. Stephen recently said of Ray, “He was the most evangelistic person I’ve ever met in my life.” Ray maintained Bible correspondence course students and sent the book, Muscle and A Shove, Muscle and A Shovel, to so many of his friends and former associates, that supplies were exhausted not only in Memphis Christian bookstores, but as far away as Chattanooga. The Christian bookstore owner was aware of Ray’s efforts using that teaching tool. Ray would not only send the book, but he would write a personal letter to each recipient urging him to read and consider the material. Ray liked texting and learned how to blast texts with Bible teachings to many people at once. His professional accomplishments in him paled in comparison to his work for the Lord in teaching the Bible.
He was particularly proud of his long-time friend and former Chief of the Memphis Fire Department, J.R. Boatwright, for obeying the gospel at age 90. Ray drew on the political contacts he knew to obtain permission from the Shelby County Attorney, for the Gospel Broadcasting Network, to have exclusive rights for 50 years, to bring its satellite signal into the Shelby County Penal Farm to its 3,800 inmates. Although he was coping with leukemia, Ray and a couple of his friends personally installed satellite dishes and ran necessary cabling to the Penal Farm’s 13 buildings, in the 90-degree heat. He installed a big screen TV for people to see GBN in the chapel at the Penal Farm, and was assisted by 2 inmates, one of whom had years before broken into Ray’s house! He insisted that inmate not only take a Bible correspondence course but, made sure that he completed it.
Ray enjoyed bee keeping, hunting deer and turkey, cutting grass—at home and for others, working in his garden, fishing, He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and even teaching Shelby to play golf.
The apostle John wrote in the last book of the Bible, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them” (Revelation 14:13).
Left to cherish his memory is his loving family, which includes his son-in-law, Travis Cooper of Byhalia, MS; four grandchildren, Caroline Parkes, Hayley Elizabeth Cooper Heckler, Travis Dylan Cooper, and Shelby Leigh Cooper; seven great-grandchildren, Luke Arnold, Elleigh-Ann Arnold, Jaxon Heckler, Abigail Heckler, Kavanna Heckler, Talon Parkes and Rowan Parkes; and two stepchildren, Michael Hart and Nancy Robinson. He was preceded in death by his wife, Brenda Sue Parris Maples; two daughters, Sandra Kay Maples and Donna Leigh Maples; one brother, Melton Roy Maples, and his parents.
Visitation will be on Thursday, September 2, 2021, from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. at Olive Branch Church of Christ. Funeral services will follow at 12 p.m. Internment will be for family and close friends only, at Fulmer Cemetery in Harmontown (Panola County).
Memorial contributions may be made in Ray’s memory, to Memphis School of Preaching.
Ray-Nowell Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with his services.