Robert Ray

Reidsville - Robert Ray "Bobby" Shumate, 78, of Avante of Reidsville, died Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at Annie Penn Hospital. Graveside funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Monday, June 8, 2009 at Reidlawn Cemetery with Rev. Gary Owens officiating. Military graveside rites will be performed by the Rockingham County Honor Guard. Mr. Shumate was born in Rockingham County to the late Ernest and Ruth Gladys Talley Shumate. He was a veteran of the Air Force serving during the Korean Conflict and was retired from Lorillard Tobacco Company. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Marvin and Haywood Shumate and his sisters, Ruth Evelyn and Patricia Shumate. He is survived by his son, Robert E. "Eddie" Shumate and wife, Jenny of Browns Summit; grandchildren, Tonya Brewer and husband, Kris, Madeline Shumate and Stephen Breeding; great granddaughter, Gracie Brewer; brothers, Kenneth and Garland Shumate; sister, Melba Hamlett and husband, Willard all of Reidsville; and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorial contributions be made to Monticello United Church of Christ Building Fund, 5001 NC Hwy150 East, Browns Summit, NC 27214, or Hospice Home of Rockingham County, PO Box 281, Wentworth, NC 27375.