Mr. Willie Ray Dampeer was born October 27, 1943, to the late Webb and Bertha Dampeer in Simpson County, Mississippi. He departed this life on February 3, 2023, at Simpson General Hospital in Mendenhall, Mississippi.

At an early age, he joined Greater Dry Ridge M.B. Church. He attended Harper High School where he played basketball and got a scholarship to play at Coahoma College in the Delta. He played there until he had to leave in order to help his father with the farm.

In 1970, he married Mary Joyce Newsome. They had four children: David Newsome, Kim Jordan, Dennis Dampeer, and Fredrick Dampeer.

Willie Ray was a devoted member of the Greater Dry Ridge M.B. Church until his health failed. He was a deacon, Sunday School superintendent, and member of the male choir.

He worked at Xerox in Los Angeles, California, and Magnetek in Magee, Mississippi until it closed. Then, he worked with the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) until he retired in 2010. He enjoyed landscaping and keeping his yard and his children's yard cut.

He leaves to cherish his memory: one daughter, Kim (Corey) Jordan; three sons, David Newsome, Dennis (LaToya) Dampeer, and Fredrick (LyTonia) Dampeer; 13 grandchildren, Ryan Lockhart, Darrian Perkins, Antonio Newsome, Martinez Newsome, Destiny Ruffin, Kourtney Jordan, Kiara Dampeer, Katlyn Dampeer, Dennis Dampeer, Jr., Fredrick Dampeer, Jr., Quan Williams, Malik Williams, and Mikala Dampeer; two great grandchildren, Ryan C. Lockhart, II and Roderick J. Smith; one sister, Bonnie McCullum, Magee, Mississippi; a special brother and sister-in-law, Kitty (Marilyn) Dampeer of Mendenhall, Mississippi; four brothers-in-law, Billy Ray Newsome, Charles Fred Newsome, Leoatis (Linda) Newsome, and Stanley Newsome; along with a host of nieces and nephews.

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