
Ray Stevens is a two-time Grammy Award winner and is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Christian Music Hall of Fame, and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. Some of his hit songs include “Everything Is Beautiful” and “Misty,” and he is also known for other comedic tracks including “Gitarzan” and “The Streak.”
The singer made the most of his impact with original material, which was often based on cultural trends and musical fads of the day. Yet his knack for sheer silliness translated across generations, not to mention countless compilations and special TV offers, and he was still making fun of modern life on 2021’s Ain’t Nothin’ Funny Anymore.
Who are Ray Stevens’ parents, Frances Stephens Ragsdale and Willis Harold Ragsdale?
Ray Stevens was born Harold Ray Ragsdale on January 24, 1939, in the small town of Clarkdale, Georgia. He was the son of Frances Stephens Ragsdale and Willis Harold Ragsdale. He ventured into music at a very young age when he started piano lessons at age six and formed a band at 15 called the Barons, which played at local venues and social events.
Ray is not the only child of the couple, he is the oldest of the two children of the couple. His younger brother John Ragsdale was an actor and writer. John passed away in 2020 at the age of 75.
ALSO, READ; Who are Ray Stevens’ Children: Timi Jones and Suzi Ragsdale?
Who was Ray Stevens’ mother Frances Stephens Ragsdale?
Frances Stephens Ragsdale was born on 15 April 1916 in Floyd County, Georgia, USA. She was the daughter of Pierce Burton Stephens and Ida E Ray Stephens and the sister of Pierce Burton Stephens and Lula Bernice Stephens Maxham. Frances gained much of her fame from being the mother of Ray Stevens. The singer has also not spoken much about his mother, however, she has been very supportive of his son’s career.
Ray’s mother encouraged him to take piano lessons. She was such a loving and supportive force throughout his life. According to Ray Stevens’ Wikipedia, his mother Frances Stephens Ragsdale passed away on 11 February 1997 in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, USA.

The cause of her death has not been made public by the singer. She was 80 years old at the time of her death. Ray Stevens’ mother was laid to rest at Poplar Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Hiram, Paulding County, Georgia, USA per her Find A grave profile.
Who was Ray Stevens’ father, Willis Harold Ragsdale?
Willis Harold Ragsdale was born on 20 March 1915 in Paulding County, Georgia, USA. He was the son of Willis Asbury Ragsdale and Pearl Wright Ragsdale and the brother of John David Ragsdale and Leon Jasper Ragsdale. Ray Stevens’ parents got married on February 18, 1938, in a beautiful wedding ceremony in the presence of their friends, families, and loved ones.
The couple went on to have two children- Stevens and his brother John Willis Ragsdale. Willis Harold Ragsdale passed away on 22 June 2001. He was 85 years old at the time of his death. He was laid to rest at Poplar Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Hiram, Paulding County, Georgia, USA according to his Findagrave profile.
ALSO, READ; Penny Jackson: What happened to Ray Stevens’ Wife?
Stevens also lost his wife Penny Jackson Ragsdale in 2021. The country singer shared the news of his wife’s death with his fans via his Facebook page on January 1, 2022. The post garnered many wishes of condolences from fans and fellow artists alike. The Grammy Award winner shared in the post that his wife had passed away on New Year’s Eve in their home at the age of 78. The announcement came after Stevens called off his New Year’s Eve show to spend time with his wife. The couple were parents of two children – Timi Jones and Suzi Ragsdale.
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