Ray L. "Pete" Ainsworth
(June 2, 1929 – April 30, 2023)

Ray L. "Pete" Ainsworth, 93 of Raleigh, Mississippi passed away from his earthly home to his heavenly home on Sunday, April 30, 2023, at Merit Health Rankin in Brandon, Mississippi. He was born on Sunday, June 2, 1929, in Smith County, Mississippi.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home, at 302 8th Ave SW, Magee, Mississippi.

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, May 03, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home. A private burial will follow in Merchant Cemetery in Raleigh, Mississippi. Bro. Anthony Grayson, Bro. Randy Ivy, and Bro. Carl Floyd will officiate. Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Magee is in charge of arrangements. 601-849-5031

Mr. Pete was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Raleigh, Mississippi. He served as the Music Director for Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and Sardis Baptist Church. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, brother, and friend. He was a member of the Grand Lodge of MS F. & A.M. Willis Lodge #92.

He was a graduate of White Oak High School in White Oak, Mississippi. He then started a career as a Barber. He was then drafted into the United States Army where he served as a Military Police Officer. After his military service, he then began his career in Law Enforcement. He has served on the Jackson Police Department in Jackson, MS (retiring as Lieutenant after twenty years), Siemans Allis Chalmers as the Chief of Police Department in Richland, MS, and then retired as the Chief of Police at UMMC in Jackson, MS.

He had a passion for singing gospel (convention) songs. He had a great voice and could sing ANY voice part. He had so many singing friends from Oklahoma to Florida. He also enjoyed spending time fishing and working in his garden. He will be greatly missed by all of his loving family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Gathel Ainsworth; mother, Versie Patterson Ainsworth; and sister, Daisy Ainsworth Nichols.

Survivors include his loving wife of sixty-nine years, Dora Austin Ainsworth of Raleigh, MS; two sons, Steve Ainsworth (Lisa) and James Ainsworth (Luann) and both of Brandon, MS; three grandchildren, Amanda Ainsworth Peak (Steven), Jamie Ainsworth Carpenter (Matt), and Lacey Ainsworth Pickle (Lake) all of Brandon, MS; two great-grandchildren, Hunter Peak and Ella Peak both of Brandon, MS.

The family request in lieu of flowers contributions can be made to Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, P.O. Box 13, Raleigh, MS 39153, or to Sardis Baptist Church, 9831 Hwy 18 West, Morton, MS 39117.

An online guestbook may be signed at
www.colonialchapelmageemendenhall.com