Ray Fletcher Tew was borned in Graceville, Geneva County, Florida, USA on 8 June l922. He grew up in and around Graceville, FL and Slocomb, Alabama. He was drafted during World War II and served in the Pacific ~ Japan and the Phillipines. After the war, Ray relocated to Columbus, Georgia and accepted employment with Phenix and Eagle Cotton Mill as a Loom Fixer. He worked at the same job for 35 years.

In 1948 he married Betty Elizabeth Wyatt a resident of Columbus, GA. She lived north of Columbus in a rural area known as Fortson. Betty worked at the Bibb Cotton Mill before she and Ray married.

I was born to Ray and Betty on 6 September 1949 and named Corliss Faye Tew. We lived in Bibb City a small town ajacent to Columbus on the Chattahoocee River. In 1953 we moved to Fortson and Ray built a house (literally built the house with he own hands) on land my maternal Grandfather, James Edward Wyatt, Sr. granted to mother.

Ray was a man of few words, but when he spoke, pearls of wisdom flowed from him. My sister Raelene Tew born 9 December 1955 and I loved and respected Ray Fletcher Tew above everyone we have known in our lifetime. We want the entire world to know this story.

Ray F Tew