Edwin Ray Strickland

Ray was born in Sampson County, NC on December 8,1930. He was a graduate of Mingo High School. When he was 16 he met Helen Heath and they wed in 1950. They had a very loving marriage for almost 70 years.

In 1952, Ray entered the Navy and was based in San Diego, CA until he was honorably discharged in 1956. After he left the Navy, he and Helen moved to Fayetteville, where Ray was hired as a civilian at Fort Bragg and started his career in human resources with the federal government. While in Fayetteville, Ray and Helen were blessed to have two daughters, Donna and Debbie.

In 1962, Ray relocated the family to Houston, TX where he took a job with NASA. Ray and Helen often mentioned how much they enjoyed living in Texas, but the desire to be closer to family brought them back to Raleigh, in 1967 where he worked for the Civil Service Commission (now known as the Office of Personnel Management). Ray retired from the Environmental Protection Agency in 1985.

Following retirement, Ray devoted 30 years to volunteering by delivering Meals on Wheels and also served as a docent at the North Carolina State Capitol where he enjoyed providing tours and explaining North Carolina’s history. In 2012 he received the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award which is granted by the Office of the Governor of the State of North Carolina to individuals who have shown extraordinary service to the state.

He also devoted time to Hayes Barton Baptist Church, where he had been a member since 1967. He was active in the Fellowship Sunday School Class where he served as treasurer for many years and played piano every Sunday. Ray was also active with the church TV Broadcast Ministry from inception where he worked the sound board.

At both church and at the Capitol, he was known as the Candy Man for the seemingly endless supply of hard candies he carried in his pockets and always handed out with a smile.

Ray was preceded in death by his infant son David Ray and his parents Isaac Columbus Strickland and Alice Taylor Strickland, as well as three sisters and two brothers.

Survivors include daughters Donna Benton (Don) of Carolina Beach; Debra Bergold (Alan) of Raleigh, and grandson Justin Lisk (Ashlyn) of Raleigh, along with one sister and numerous nieces and nephews.

Following a private burial, a celebration of life is planned at Hayes Barton Baptist Church at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Hayes Barton Baptist Church TV Broadcast Ministry at https://secure.accessacs.com/access/oglogin.aspx?sn=11198.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh.