Philip Ray Finley

DURHAM- Philip Ray Finley, 79, peacefully went home to be with his Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, on Monday, October 12, 2015. Mr. Finley will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 15, 2015, at 1:00 p.m. at Fellowship Baptist Church, 515 Southerland Street, with Pastor Rick Finley and Pastor Ken Finley officiating. The burial will follow in Oak Grove Memorial Gardens. Active pallbearers will be Joshua Finley, Kaleb Finley, Jacob Finley, Matthew Finley, Stuart Griffin, Darrell Slaughter, John Pickens and Caleb Ray.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Hudson Funeral Home and other times at the home.

Philip was born in McDowell County, NC, on June 28, 1936, as the youngest of two sons, to George and Laura Finley before moving to Durham as a young boy. During his late teen years, he met Ida Delores Grooms, to whom he was married for 57 years. Mr. Finley provided for his family through his employment at the cotton mill while attending night school to earn his electrician’s license. Eventually, Philip was employed at Liggett & Myers in 1974 until his retirement in 1998. Mr. Finley began attending Fellowship Baptist Church in the ‘60’s where today his oldest son serves as the pastor and his youngest son serves on the pastoral staff.

Beside family, cars were always Philip’s passion. In the ‘60’s, he began stock car racing becoming a force at local short tracks including Trico Motor Speedway, South Boston Speedway, Butner Speedway, and Jet Speedway in Creedmoor. His passion for speed and competition enabled him to become a perennial track champion in the Limited Sportsman Division.

After hanging up his helmet, Mr. Finley became a street rod enthusiast investing countless hours rebuilding and fine-tuning his 1939 Ford Coupe, 1940 Ford Sedan, and 1939 Ford Sedan.

Philip is survived by his wife Delores of  Durham; two sons,  Rick Finley and his wife Renae, and Ken Finley and his wife Sharon all of  Timberlake; eight grandchildren, Jessica Finley Weitz and her husband Tyler, Karissa Finley Ray and her husband Caleb, Joshua Finley and wife Aimee, Kaleb Finley, Abbie Finley, Jacob Finley, Amber Finley and Matthew Finley; and two great grandchildren, Raelyn Weitz and Jase Ray. Mr. Finley is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Buck Finley.

The family would like to thank the Doctors and Nurses on the 4100 wing at Duke Hospital and the staff at Hock Pavilion for their dedicated care of their loved one. Special thanks from the family to Barbara Finley for her demonstration of  love and compassion in recent days.

Flowers are acceptable or donations may be made to: Fellowship Baptist Church, 515 Southerland  St., Durham, NC. 27703. Online condolences can be made at www.hudsonfuneralhome.com