Ruth Louise Graham Ray, age 108, died peacefully at home on Saturday, September 25, 2021.
Ms. Ray was born in Jacksonville, Florida on October 31, 1912, to parents Darius and Ruth Dixon Graham. During her early years, she delighted in assisting her educator mother in tutoring students, playing basketball on the church team, singing in the choir and serving as a pianist for one of the churches near her home.
A lifelong educator, Ms. Ray began her teaching career in the Duval County School District in 1933. She retired from Florida State College at Jacksonville (formerly Florida Community College of Jacksonville (FCCJ)) in 1983, after providing 50 years of educational excellence. Her career included serving as a guidance counselor for the local school district and as an Assistant Professor of Counseling at FCCJ.
Ms. Ray received degrees from the following institutions:
· Stanton High School, Diploma 1930
· Bethune-Cookman College, A.S. 1932
· Tuskegee University, B.S. 1940
· Hampton University, M.A. 1945
She also studied at Florida A&M University, University of Florida, University of Michigan and New York University. An avid world adventurer, she traveled the globe, visiting countries in Africa and Europe.
Ms. Ray had an enduring love for the Girl Scouts of the United States of America. She worked for more than forty years as a Girl Scout Troop Leader and was a certified national trainer for other troop leaders throughout the country. One of the first African American leaders in Jacksonville to attend the Edith Macy National Training Schools for the Girl Scouts of America organization in 1953. Ms. Ray's training expertise was the subject of a feature article in Girl Scout Leader Magazine.
The oldest member of Bethel Baptist Institutional Church, "The Bethel Church", Ms. Ray grew up in Bethel and served as the Secretary of the Trustee Ministry for more than forty years.
She was an accomplished author and poet throughout her life. Highlights of her writing career include publication of INSIDE OUT, a book of inspirational poems, and a co-author of History of Black Firefighters in Jacksonville, Florida (1850-1905).
Ms. Ray touched thousands of lives in her lifelong quest—
"To in some way help to stir the wind beneath the wings of others and spur them to seek, soar, and discover the true treasures of life."
She was preceded in death by her parents, Darius and Ruth Dixon Graham, her brother Martin and sister-in-law Jamie Graham, and niece Dr. Martia Graham Goodson.
She is survived by her beloved grandniece and grandnephew, great-grandniece, goddaughter, longtime family friend and her extended family of, Sunday School Class (Seekers of Truth), Archives Ministry and church congregation.
A special thank you to her godson and primary care giver along with her personal homecare Registered Nurse, and the entire team of "Ray Caregivers,".
Additional thanks to her pastors, First Lady and Executive Pastor and her former student and Pastor.
Ms. Ray was born in Jacksonville, Florida on October 31, 1912, to parents Darius and Ruth Dixon Graham. During her early years, she delighted in assisting her educator mother in tutoring students, playing basketball on the church team, singing in the choir and serving as a pianist for one of the churches near her home.
A lifelong educator, Ms. Ray began her teaching career in the Duval County School District in 1933. She retired from Florida State College at Jacksonville (formerly Florida Community College of Jacksonville (FCCJ)) in 1983, after providing 50 years of educational excellence. Her career included serving as a guidance counselor for the local school district and as an Assistant Professor of Counseling at FCCJ.
Ms. Ray received degrees from the following institutions:
· Stanton High School, Diploma 1930
· Bethune-Cookman College, A.S. 1932
· Tuskegee University, B.S. 1940
· Hampton University, M.A. 1945
She also studied at Florida A&M University, University of Florida, University of Michigan and New York University. An avid world adventurer, she traveled the globe, visiting countries in Africa and Europe.
Ms. Ray had an enduring love for the Girl Scouts of the United States of America. She worked for more than forty years as a Girl Scout Troop Leader and was a certified national trainer for other troop leaders throughout the country. One of the first African American leaders in Jacksonville to attend the Edith Macy National Training Schools for the Girl Scouts of America organization in 1953. Ms. Ray's training expertise was the subject of a feature article in Girl Scout Leader Magazine.
The oldest member of Bethel Baptist Institutional Church, "The Bethel Church", Ms. Ray grew up in Bethel and served as the Secretary of the Trustee Ministry for more than forty years.
She was an accomplished author and poet throughout her life. Highlights of her writing career include publication of INSIDE OUT, a book of inspirational poems, and a co-author of History of Black Firefighters in Jacksonville, Florida (1850-1905).
Ms. Ray touched thousands of lives in her lifelong quest—
"To in some way help to stir the wind beneath the wings of others and spur them to seek, soar, and discover the true treasures of life."
She was preceded in death by her parents, Darius and Ruth Dixon Graham, her brother Martin and sister-in-law Jamie Graham, and niece Dr. Martia Graham Goodson.
She is survived by her beloved grandniece and grandnephew, great-grandniece, goddaughter, longtime family friend and her extended family of, Sunday School Class (Seekers of Truth), Archives Ministry and church congregation.
A special thank you to her godson and primary care giver along with her personal homecare Registered Nurse, and the entire team of "Ray Caregivers,".
Additional thanks to her pastors, First Lady and Executive Pastor and her former student and Pastor.
Ruth Louise Graham Ray, age 108, died peacefully at home on Saturday, September 25, 2021.
Ms. Ray was born in Jacksonville, Florida on October 31, 1912, to parents Darius and Ruth Dixon Graham. During her early years, she delighted in assisting her educator mother in tutoring students, playing basketball on the church team, singing in the choir and serving as a pianist for one of the churches near her home.
A lifelong educator, Ms. Ray began her teaching career in the Duval County School District in 1933. She retired from Florida State College at Jacksonville (formerly Florida Community College of Jacksonville (FCCJ)) in 1983, after providing 50 years of educational excellence. Her career included serving as a guidance counselor for the local school district and as an Assistant Professor of Counseling at FCCJ.
Ms. Ray received degrees from the following institutions:
· Stanton High School, Diploma 1930
· Bethune-Cookman College, A.S. 1932
· Tuskegee University, B.S. 1940
· Hampton University, M.A. 1945
She also studied at Florida A&M University, University of Florida, University of Michigan and New York University. An avid world adventurer, she traveled the globe, visiting countries in Africa and Europe.
Ms. Ray had an enduring love for the Girl Scouts of the United States of America. She worked for more than forty years as a Girl Scout Troop Leader and was a certified national trainer for other troop leaders throughout the country. One of the first African American leaders in Jacksonville to attend the Edith Macy National Training Schools for the Girl Scouts of America organization in 1953. Ms. Ray's training expertise was the subject of a feature article in Girl Scout Leader Magazine.
The oldest member of Bethel Baptist Institutional Church, "The Bethel Church", Ms. Ray grew up in Bethel and served as the Secretary of the Trustee Ministry for more than forty years.
She was an accomplished author and poet throughout her life. Highlights of her writing career include publication of INSIDE OUT, a book of inspirational poems, and a co-author of History of Black Firefighters in Jacksonville, Florida (1850-1905).
Ms. Ray touched thousands of lives in her lifelong quest—
"To in some way help to stir the wind beneath the wings of others and spur them to seek, soar, and discover the true treasures of life."
She was preceded in death by her parents, Darius and Ruth Dixon Graham, her brother Martin and sister-in-law Jamie Graham, and niece Dr. Martia Graham Goodson.
She is survived by her beloved grandniece and grandnephew, great-grandniece, goddaughter, longtime family friend and her extended family of, Sunday School Class (Seekers of Truth), Archives Ministry and church congregation.
A special thank you to her godson and primary care giver along with her personal homecare Registered Nurse, and the entire team of "Ray Caregivers,".
Additional thanks to her pastors, First Lady and Executive Pastor and her former student and Pastor.
Ms. Ray was born in Jacksonville, Florida on October 31, 1912, to parents Darius and Ruth Dixon Graham. During her early years, she delighted in assisting her educator mother in tutoring students, playing basketball on the church team, singing in the choir and serving as a pianist for one of the churches near her home.
A lifelong educator, Ms. Ray began her teaching career in the Duval County School District in 1933. She retired from Florida State College at Jacksonville (formerly Florida Community College of Jacksonville (FCCJ)) in 1983, after providing 50 years of educational excellence. Her career included serving as a guidance counselor for the local school district and as an Assistant Professor of Counseling at FCCJ.
Ms. Ray received degrees from the following institutions:
· Stanton High School, Diploma 1930
· Bethune-Cookman College, A.S. 1932
· Tuskegee University, B.S. 1940
· Hampton University, M.A. 1945
She also studied at Florida A&M University, University of Florida, University of Michigan and New York University. An avid world adventurer, she traveled the globe, visiting countries in Africa and Europe.
Ms. Ray had an enduring love for the Girl Scouts of the United States of America. She worked for more than forty years as a Girl Scout Troop Leader and was a certified national trainer for other troop leaders throughout the country. One of the first African American leaders in Jacksonville to attend the Edith Macy National Training Schools for the Girl Scouts of America organization in 1953. Ms. Ray's training expertise was the subject of a feature article in Girl Scout Leader Magazine.
The oldest member of Bethel Baptist Institutional Church, "The Bethel Church", Ms. Ray grew up in Bethel and served as the Secretary of the Trustee Ministry for more than forty years.
She was an accomplished author and poet throughout her life. Highlights of her writing career include publication of INSIDE OUT, a book of inspirational poems, and a co-author of History of Black Firefighters in Jacksonville, Florida (1850-1905).
Ms. Ray touched thousands of lives in her lifelong quest—
"To in some way help to stir the wind beneath the wings of others and spur them to seek, soar, and discover the true treasures of life."
She was preceded in death by her parents, Darius and Ruth Dixon Graham, her brother Martin and sister-in-law Jamie Graham, and niece Dr. Martia Graham Goodson.
She is survived by her beloved grandniece and grandnephew, great-grandniece, goddaughter, longtime family friend and her extended family of, Sunday School Class (Seekers of Truth), Archives Ministry and church congregation.
A special thank you to her godson and primary care giver along with her personal homecare Registered Nurse, and the entire team of "Ray Caregivers,".
Additional thanks to her pastors, First Lady and Executive Pastor and her former student and Pastor.
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