Charles H. Wray, M.D.

Augusta, GA - Dr. Charles H. Wray, 90, entered into rest on March 5, 2024, at his home.

Dr. Wray is the son of the late Charles Adair Wray (Jack) and the late Sarah Lee Durham Wray. He is survived by his wife, Betty Beasley Wray, M.D. and his four children: Charles Thomas Wray (Kelly), Brian Carter Wray (Donna), Lee Vaughan Wray (Elizabeth “Sam”), and Julienne Wray Daughtery. He was preceded in death by his daughter-in-law, Betty-Ware Watson Wray and son-in-law, Peter John Daughtery. Grandchildren are Walter C Wray (Jenny), Carter Lee Wray (Abby), Megan M Daughtery, Tyler C Wray, Jackson R Wray, and Evan Westemeier, great grandchildren, Adelynn Grace Wray 4 and Walker Cole Wray 1 year old. 

Dr. Wray was born in Orlando, Florida but moved to Union Point, GA at age 4. He graduated from Union Point High School and received his BS Degree from Mercer University in 1955. As a teen he was ordained as a Baptist Minister by his church in Union Point. During his college years he served as interim pastor at Isle of Hope Baptist church. He later chose medicine as his ministry and graduated from the Medical College of Georgia in 1959. After a General Surgery residency at MCG, he joined the faculty in 1964. He had a busy clinical career and served the department as Chief of Vascular Surgery, Chief of General Surgery, vice chair and interim chair. He also served MCG as interim dean in 1988-89 and 1992-94, and as Vice-President for Clinical Activities 1993-97. He was as President of the Alumni Association and the Richmond County Medical Society. He will be remembered as “a surgeon’s surgeon” who was an excellent teacher. In 1967 he went to Viet Nam as a volunteer surgeon operating on wounded civilians. After he stopped performing surgery he assisted in overhauling the state’s medical care of prisoners. 

He was a member of First Baptist Church Augusta since 1961. He taught Sunday School and assisted in computer classes and worked in benevolence. He enjoyed Bible study and researching scriptures with a computer as soon as they became available.

He fulfilled all his roles well, husband, father, grandfather, physician, and teacher. He maintained a sense of humor despite much pain and suffering in his last few years. He believed in God’s steadfast love. 

The family is very grateful to all his caregivers, especially Barbara Wright, Marie Jackson, Jean Frank, Tesha Devine, Rose Coney, Bessie Houston, and Edde Perry. 

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to First Baptist Church, 3500 Walton Way ext. Augusta, Ga 30909, or to the Nesbit/Wray Chair in Surgical Education, MCG Foundation, 720 St. Sebastian St. Augusta. GA 30901, or to the Charles H Wray Scholarship at McAfee School of Theology Mercer University, Atlanta, GA. 

A memorial service will be at Augusta’s First Baptist Church at 2:00 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2024 at the Story Chapel. Visitation with the family begins at Noon.