Billie Welch Raley

Mrs. Billie Welch Raley, age 87 of Sandersville, passed away on Friday, April 18, 2025, at Washington County Extended Care Facility. A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Sandersville First Baptist Church, with burial following in Brownwood Cemetery. Reverend Lee Lacey will officiate, and pallbearers will be Wynn Raley, Graham Raley, Keith Lewis, Reid Chandler, Taylor Veal, and Paul Gorial. The family will receive friends at the church on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of service.

Mrs. Raley was a lifelong resident of Washington County, born in Davisboro, to the late Willis E. Welch and the late Inez Cowart Welch. She served as Chief Tax Assessor and Appraiser for the county. Mrs. Raley was also an accomplished seamstress, novice artist, superb cook, avid reader, and lover of music, especially Classical and Hymns. She enjoyed antiquing, playing piano, and she was also “converted” from being a Georgia Tech fan, to a loyal Georgia Bulldog supporter. Mrs. Raley found her greatest joy in being with her family, especially her grandchildren. She was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and a member of Sandersville First Baptist Church, which she loved dearly. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband, Elton Vernon Raley; and her sister, Alice Hanby.

Mrs. Raley is survived by her daughters, Marilyn Mesler and her husband Gary of Fallbrook, CA, and Roseanne Chambers and her husband Jimmy of Sandersville; sons, Benjamin Raley and his wife Carol of Sandersville, and Frank V. Raley and his wife Whitney of Davisboro; grandchildren, Stacy Mesler, Wynn Raley, Brittany Chandler, Graham Raley, Chelsey Lewis, Kara Veal, Anna Grace Raley, and Leah Gorial; and great grandchildren, Fowler Lewis, Carter Veal, Ella Kate Raley, Hudson Lewis, Brooks Raley, Cannon Raley, and Violet Gorial.

The family will be at the home of Ben and Carol Raley, on Mayview Road, in Sandersville.

Condolences may be made online at www.mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com

May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.