Charles T Rayford

June 28, 1941 – August 10, 2026

On August 10, 2026, Charles T. Rayford, affectionately known by many names but loved by all who knew him, passed peacefully at home at the age of 85. To his coworkers he was Rayford, to his fishing buddies Chuck, and to family and friends CharlieRay. His grandchildren would argue that PawPaw was the best name he ever had, while to Dora, the woman who shared more than five decades of his life, he was simply “Honey.” Fittingly, his final moments were spent in “his chair,” a familiar place of comfort in the home he shared with his family.

Charles was born June 28, 1941, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to Thelma Lee Jackson and Hansel Charles Rayford. When his father went off to war, the family moved together from Mississippi to Detroit, Michigan, where he was raised on the city's northwest side as the oldest of seven children. He graduated from Northwestern High School and later enlisted in the United States Air Force. A gifted athlete, Charles played football for the Air Force until fractured ribs brought his playing career to an early end. During the Vietnam era, he served his country as a cryptography operator while stationed in Germany. Following his military service, Charles returned home to Detroit, where he married Mertis, and during their union they welcomed their daughter, Cynthia “Chelsey” Rayford.

Life would eventually bring Charles to the woman with whom he would spend the rest of his life—and it happened entirely by chance. A chance encounter involving a woman whose car had been hit introduced Charles to Dora L. Howell. That unexpected meeting became a love story that would span more than five decades. Charles and Dora married in 1979, and through their marriage Charles welcomed Cleveland “Beno” Howell III and Lilnora “Pookey” Howell into his life and heart as his own. Later, Charles and Dora welcomed their baby girl, Charvon T. “Cricket” Rayford. Charles never measured fatherhood by biology; he measured it by showing up, providing, protecting, teaching, listening and loving. Years later, when his granddaughter Chanel needed that same steady presence, PawPaw stepped naturally into a familiar role and helped raise another generation. For Charles, family was family. No qualifiers required.

Charles worked for Ford Motor Company for 41 years, eventually finding his professional home in skilled trades as a hydraulic repairman. He was exceptionally good at what he did—good enough that sometimes the plant called for him even on his days off. He was known to remind his family that for years he worked seven days a week, twelve hours a day, usually followed by one of his favorite pieces of wisdom: “Hard work won't kill you.” Nobody was going to convince CharlieRay otherwise.

Yet despite all the hours he worked, his family never had to wonder whether he would show up. In 1991, while continuing to work full-time at Ford, Charles returned to school and earned his associate degree with honors from Baker College. Somehow, between his job, school and everything else life required, he still made the recitals, ROTC inspections and important moments. At Charvon's school, everybody seemed to know her dad. That was Charles. He showed up.

Charles's faith was central to who he was. In Detroit, he was a faithful member of Southwestern Church of God, first under the leadership of Pastor Lawrence P. Wyatt and later Bishop Jack Perkins. He served his church in several capacities before finding his place as Head Trustee.

Then, in 2019, Charles announced that God had told him it was time to move—and that he needed to do it now. Las Vegas was not exactly where Charles imagined the next chapter of his life would take him. A man of deep faith, he was admittedly reluctant about leaving Detroit for a place famously known as “Sin City.” But Charles trusted what he believed God had told him. He and Dora left the city that had been their home for decades and moved west to Las Vegas to be with Charvon and her family. In the years that followed, Charles would say that he came to understand why God had sent them there and realized they were exactly where they needed to be.

Charles and Dora found a new church home at New Creation Outreach Ministries under Pastor Durand Simpson, where they were lovingly welcomed and embraced as elders of the church. For Charles, the move became another chapter in a testimony he had never been shy about sharing. He spoke openly about the times God had moved in his life, including how God had once saved him from death, and he would share his testimony with anyone willing to listen. His faith wasn't simply something Charles talked about on Sundays. When he believed God told him to move, even when the destination didn't make sense to him, he moved. And eventually, he understood.

Charles also knew how to enjoy the life he'd been given. He loved to travel and made family vacations part of the rhythm of life. His children could count on family trips each year, including many Christmases spent escaping the Detroit cold for the warmth of Florida. Those trips became traditions and eventually treasured family memories.

Then there was fishing. Calling it a hobby might be underselling the situation. Charles was an avid fisherman with a particular love for crappie fishing. He knew more about crappie, where to find them and how to catch them than most people would ever imagine there was to know—and he was perfectly happy to discuss the subject.

Charles was simply cool. He was laid-back, funny and easy to talk to. Even at 85, he still had that walk—an unmistakable stride his family tried and failed to imitate for years. It belonged to CharlieRay alone. He gave advice with wisdom rather than judgment. You could bring him your mistakes, your worries, or the things you weren't quite sure how to fix, and he never made you feel small for any of it. He listened. He talked with you, never at you. His words carried humor, genuine interest, love and unwavering support. When life made you question yourself, CharlieRay had a way of reminding you who you were: “You got a good head on your shoulders, girl.”

His grandchildren knew another extraordinary side of him. To them, PawPaw was everything. He poured himself into his grandchildren and took tremendous pride in watching them grow. Eric Stafford Jr., his first grandson, and Jasovon Charles Parrish, his youngest grandson, held especially treasured places in his heart. To all of his grandchildren, PawPaw was far more than their grandfather. He was love, laughter, wisdom, security and the person they knew would be there.

Charles was preceded in death by his younger brothers, Renard Rayford and Stanford Rayford, and his younger sister, Nancy Parter.

He leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife, Dora L. Rayford; his children, Cynthia “Chelsey” Rayford, Cleveland “Beno” Howell III (Esther), Lilnora “Pookey” Green (Kenny), and Charvon “Cricket” Wells (Maurice); his godson, Orlando Austin; and his surviving siblings, Joannis Chambers, Dwayne Rayford (Barbara), and Sharon Cole. His legacy continues through his grandchildren, Chanel Dunbar (Frederick), Aresa Howell, Eric Stafford Jr., Cleveland Howell IV, Jasovon Charles Parrish, Shamira Howell, Christopher McKissack, Maurice Wells II, and Kelise Wells; five great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family and dear friends whose lives he touched throughout his 85 years.

But a list of names can only tell part of the story. With Charles's passing, our family lost its patriarch. He was the steady presence generations looked toward—the man you called when you needed an answer, advice, perspective, a laugh, or simply someone to remind you that you could handle whatever was in front of you. He was a husband, father, PawPaw, brother, uncle, godfather, veteran, tradesman, fisherman, church leader, counselor, storyteller and friend. Yet even all of those titles together don't fully explain what CharlieRay was to his family. He was home base.

And then there was Dora.

If you spent any amount of time around Charles and Dora, you heard it: “Honey…” From across the room, from another room, at the dinner table—and sometimes several times before dinner was over. After more than five decades together, Dora said “Honey” so naturally and so often that you might have thought it was the name his mother gave him.

Dora adored Charles, and Charles was devoted to Dora.

Throughout the years, he had many conversations with Charvon about one thing in particular: making sure her mother was taken care of. There was something about the way he spoke of it that, looking back now, almost feels as though he knew he would be the first to go. He wanted to know that whenever that day came, Dora would still be protected, cared for and surrounded by love.

Even on his final morning, his thoughts were with her. With Dora receiving medical care at a rehabilitation center, Charles said he was going to get himself together and head over to see her. He sat down in his chair to take his medication, closed his eyes, and peacefully went home to be with the Lord. There was no grand goodbye or final speech—just Charles being Charles, making plans to go see Dora. For a man who spent more than five decades beside a woman who couldn't seem to get through dinner without calling “Honey…”, there could hardly have been a more fitting final thought. His devotion was to Dora. Her world was Charles. And that was them.

For 85 years, Charles T. “CharlieRay” Rayford walked through this world with faith, humor, wisdom, an incredible work ethic and that unmistakable stride nobody else could quite imitate. He loved his wife fiercely, raised and loved his children without qualification, poured himself into his grandchildren, served his church, worked hard, traveled, fished and laughed. Whenever somebody he loved needed him, he showed up. His absence leaves a space that cannot be filled, but he also leaves behind something death cannot take: a family shaped by the way he loved them. And now, as the people who relied on his wisdom learn to trust their own, perhaps we can still hear CharlieRay giving the reassurance he gave so many times before: “You got a good head on your shoulders.” So we will keep going. That's what he taught us to do.