It is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of Dr. Bernice Ray, a lifetime member of MLA. Dr. Ray was born April 22, 1946, in Acton TN, and died June 6, 2017 at Sanctuary Hospice in Tupelo, MS. She attended Jackson State University in Jackson, MS and in 1968 she graduated Cum Laude with B. A. Degree, majoring in English and Library Science. Dr. Ray earned a Master's Degree, MA in Library Science from Rutgers University. Later at the same university, she received her Doctoral degree of Philosophy in Communication, Information and University Librarians. Dr. Ray's chosen career was as a librarian and English instructor. For many years she was employed by several universities on the East Coast, before returning to her home state of Mississippi in 1999. She became a librarian in the Bolivar County School District until she retired in 2015.