Raymond Witherspoon Jr.

Raymond Witherspoon Jr. passed away on March 13, 2026, at the age of 60. Born on August 24, 1965, in Canton, Ohio, Raymond was a brave, devoted, kind-hearted, resilient, adventurous, and happy man whose presence will be deeply missed by all who knew him. He resided in Matthews, North Carolina.

During his youth, Raymond’s father was a Marine, and the family moved around some. He spent most of his early years in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where he attended school and proudly participated on the wrestling team during his high school years. He experienced the loss of his father at the age of 12, a hardship that helped shape the resilient spirit he carried throughout his life.

Raymond worked faithfully for many years as a driver for Tender Hearts childcare service in Charlotte, as long as he was able. He also dedicated 10 years to Catawba Charlab, serving with remarkable consistency and commitment, never missing a single day.

Raymond was married for 20 years to Kina, the love of his life. Together they enjoyed taking trips—especially to the beach—where they collected seashells, went fishing, and shared simple joys like going out to eat. He also loved his mother and stepfather, Nadine and Joseph Frye, and made it a daily practice to call his mother every day, a reflection of his devoted and kind-hearted nature.

A passionate Carolina Panthers fan, Raymond made watching the Panthers a cherished weekend pastime. He also enjoyed watching reruns of Steve Harvey as often as possible, finding comfort and happiness in familiar laughter. Raymond was often referred to as 'True Grit' and together with his mom he wrote a book titled 'True Grit, Only the Strong Survive'. And as his family will attest, he was strong.

Raymond was a member of Central Church of God and attended regularly, as often as he was able. His faith and fellowship were meaningful parts of his life and community.

In addition to his father, Raymond was preceded in death by his sister, Renee Grimes, who passed away a year ago. He leaves behind aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews who will miss him dearly.