Memories from a Poet - Tapa blanda

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George Ray Houston was born in Sylvester, Worth County, Georgia.  He was the third child of John Edward Houston, Jr and Jane Ledia Mims Houston.  Ray, as he was called, went through the school system of Sylvester, and graduated from Worth County High School in 1963.

At an early age Ray loved poetry.  He wrote his first poem, "Old Sport" at the age of twelve. It was a poem about his dog.  Since then, Ray's poetry has been published in many newspapers, magazines, and books. 

On 16 February 1966, George Ray Houston was drafted in the United States Army and spent two years of active service during the Vietnam War.  After training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, he went to his overseas station in West Germany.  For the next eighteen months Ray was with the 3rd Infantry Division (The Rock of the Marne), 2n Battalion, Battery B, 39th Heavy Field Artillery.  Ray’s military service led to a civilian career with the United States Civil Service Commission, Department of the Navy, United States Marine Corps.  He served for almost a quarter of a century at the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Georgia. 

After returning home from his military service, Ray met Virginia Johns “Ginger” Parker and after several months of courtship they were married on 6 September 1969.    On 30 March 2016, his darling Ginger passed away peacefully in their home in Sylvester.

Ray was appointed Poet Laureate of the Georgia Division Sons of Confederate Veterans and was voted by his peers the Poet Laureate of the Yancy Independents, Sons of Confederate Veterans.  He and his Ginger also enjoyed membership with their reenactment group, the 2nd Georgia Incorporated, and ventured in many places as members.

Ray has been a member of the First Baptist Church of Sylvester since April 1955. Ginger and Ray were both members of the Worth County Historical Society. 

Five years after Ginger’s passing, Ray was reunited with his lifetime friend, Kay Worn Mullis.  Kay, a very special lady, gave Ray a renewed purpose in life.   They are enjoying their golden years together.  Many of Ray’s later poetry are poems and sonnets about his beloved Kay.