Dr. Ray Finney

Dr. Ray Finney

Augusta, GA - Dr. Herman Ray Finney, 81, died on January 14, 2018. The only son of the late H.L. (Jack) Finney and Sadie Elizabeth Holley Finney, Ray grew up in Martinsville, Virginia and graduated from Martinsville High School lettering in band and football.

Ray earned a BA Degree from Randolph Macon College where he was president of the Sophomore Class and a brother of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity.

Ray received his MD Degree and graduated with Honors from The Medical College of Virginia. He was a member of the Chi Beta Phi and Sigma Zeta Honorary Science Societies as well as the Alpha Sigma Chi Honorary Leadership Society. He was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honorary Medical Society and served as President of the Richmond, Virginia Chapter.

Following an Internship at Roanoke Memorial Hospital he served two years in the Army Medical Corps. While serving with U.S. Forces in South Vietnam, Captain Finney was awarded the Army Commendation Medal.

Dr. Finney completed four years of Urology residency under Dr. J.R. Rinker at the Medical College of Georgia, followed by additional training, including Lithotripsy, at the University of Virginia. In July 1968 he was presented the Montague L. Boyd prize for research done during his residency. He was a member of Dr. Arthur Humphries surgical team that performed the first human kidney transplant at MCG on August 28, 1968.

Dr. Finney was Assistant Clinical Professor of Urology at MCG from 1968 until 1976, and he served on the staff of Doctors, University, and St. Joseph’s Hospitals. In 1984 he was elected Chief of Staff at St. Joseph Hospital retiring from Augusta Urology Associates in 2000. He was a member of many Medical Organizations including the Rinker-Witherington Urologic Society, the American Urological Association, and was a Diplomat of the American Board of Urology. He served as President of Medical Facilities of Augusta and was on the Wachovia / Wells Fargo Augusta Bank Board, and a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

He enjoyed spending time on his sailboats in Charleston, SC. and was an avid golfer for many years. He served on the boards of Secession Golf Club, Champions Retreat Golf Club, and Augusta Country Club, and was a member of the Augusta National Golf Club for over 40 years, serving on the Masters Tournament Scoring Committee and becoming Chairman of the Masters Tournament First Aid Committee.

Dr. Finney is survived by his loving wife: Sammye; their 3 daughters: Lisa Patterson (Dan) Winston Salem, NC., Jane Barrett (Andy) Miami, FL., and Holley Murray (Grey) Augusta, GA; and by his 5 grandchildren: Sam Cox, Sloan Barrett, Jack Barrett, Herrington Murray, and Grey Murray, Jr. Dr. Finney was preceded in death by his parents and by his sister: Sylvia F. Stadler.

The family will receive friends on Friday, January 19, 2017 from 4:00 until 6:00 P.M. at Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Road, Augusta, GA. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, January 20, 2017 at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, 605 Reynolds Street Augusta GA.

If so desired, Memorials may be made to the Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church Endowment Fund, 605 Reynolds Street, Augusta, Ga. 30901.

Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com