William Ray Sarratt, 78, builder, volunteer

William Ray Sarratt had fond memories of growing up in Techwood-Clark Howell Homes, public housing projects in the shadow of Georgia Tech.

Times were tight for his family of seven, headed by a father who worked as a stonemason. But he made close friendships that lasted throughout his life, said his wife, Charlcie Sarratt of Lilburn.

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\uFEFFStaff photo William Ray Sarratt (second from right) stands in front of the locker room door of the community center at Techwood Homes, where hegrew up.

Mr. Sarratt was one of a group of boys who, in the 1940s, played football and baseball for a charismatic coach named W.O. Clark Jr., a father figure, minister and friend all in one.

“He made so many Christians out of those boys,” Mrs. Sarratt said. “The boys were all so close to each other, and all these years they have stayed in contact.”

Mr. Sarratt, 78, of Lilburn died Sunday from a staph infection at Emory Eastside Medical Center in Snellville. The funeral is 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church of Lilburn. Bill Head Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Sarratt’s family was one of the first to move into Techwood-Clark Howell Homes. He went to West Georgia College in Carrollton and then to Georgia Tech, where he played football for coach Bobby Dodd. He graduated from Tech in 1955 with a bachelor’s degree in architecture. He never became a licensed architect, however, his wife said.

“He didn’t want to sit behind a desk,” she said. “He wanted to get out and build it.”

Mr. Sarratt became a general contractor and owned W. Ray Sarratt Inc. He built commercial buildings and renovated interiors of businesses.

He also used his construction skills as a volunteer, taking many mission trips through his church, First Baptist of Lilburn. He helped construct churches overseas in such places as Ecuador and Moldova. “Every summer, he went for at least three or four weeks,” his wife said.

Mr. Sarratt was mission coordinator for the Gwinnett Metro Baptist Association and served several terms as a trustee on the North American Mission Board.

Another great interest was the Luther Rice Seminary in Lithonia, where Mr. Sarratt was on the board of regents and helped construct a classroom building, his wife said. The seminary gave him an honorary doctorate and named a classroom after him.

Additional survivors include a daughter, Sherrie Fancher of Vero Beach, Fla.; a son, the Rev. Mike Sarratt of Watkinsville; twin brother Bob Sarratt of Norcross and two other brothers, Jack Sarratt of Lilburn and Ronnie Sarratt of Louisville, Ky.; and two grandsons.