Melvin Lee Ray

REVEREND MELVIN LEE RAY, JR., son of the late Melvin Lee Sr. and Mable Ray, was born on March 11, 1948 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Lord called him home on December 18, 2005. He received his education at Dunbar Senior High School in Baltimore, graduating on June 6, 1966; the class consisted of six hundred and sixty six students. He matriculated at the United Baptist College and Seminary for three years, each year on the Dean's List. At Mt. Ararat Baptist Church he was an ordained Deacon and a licensed Minister. In order to assist his friend and Pastor Jerome McNeil, Sr., he was ordained Minister on July 14, 1999 at Temple Baptist Church. After his internship at Temple Baptist, he returned to Mt. Ararat as a faithful and devoted Associate Minister. He was employed by Joseph E. Seagram & Sons for twenty-four years until his retirement in 1991. Thereafter, he became employed by the National Federation of the Blind for twelve years until his retirement in 2003. He married the former Frances Williams, and out of this union came three children, Donnell, Karen and Sheila. On August 5, 1983, he married the former Sharon Lane and became a father to Eric. Melvin and Sharon have been happily married for twenty-two years. Melvin made friends wherever he went and talked to everyone that he met. He loved his church family dearly. He always had conversation for whomever and whenever. He loved the Lord and gave his time and talent every chance he had. Melvin loved to praise the Lord and loved his family dearly. He could never stop talking about his grandchildren. He was a true friend and devoted husband. He would say "I've lost my sight, but not the vision". Melvin's favorite scriptures were Romans 8:28 and Psalms 103. He leaves to cherish his memory: his devoted wife, Sharon D. Ray; two sons, Donnell Williams and Eric Lane; two daughters, Karen Morris and Sheila Cahill; two grandchildren, Ashley and Alex Cahill; three sisters, Rebecca (Albert) White, Barbara (Andrew) Moore, and Lolita (Antonio) Ferguson; a mother-in-law, Fraulien Patrick; one sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, quite a few adopted children and grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Melvin Lee Ray

March 11, 1948 - December 18, 2005