Martin Ray passed away peacefully on December 29, 2019 with his wife, Rita, at his side. He is survived by children; Borden Ray (Maria), Allison Tatum, Amy Noland (Jason), Jill Colburn (Paul Kjar); grandchildren; Mary Claire & Katherine Ray, Daniel Tatum (Ally), Jordan Tatum; Abbey, Katie, and Molly Noland; and great grandson, JP Tatum; and his beloved cat Maggie May Ray.
Martin will be interred at the Alabama National Veterans Cemetery in Montevallo, Alabama on Friday, January 3, 2020 at 1:00 pm (sharp). A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 1:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa. A reception for all family and friends will be held immediately following at the church. Sunset Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Pallbearers will be Grandson Daniel Tatum, Dr. Russ Guin, Norman Crow, John Johnson, Carlos Berleson, Rev. Larry Doughty. Martin had many friends making it impossible to list honorary pallbearers. Thank you for being a part of his life.
Martin Ray was born on March 25, 1934 in Birmingham, Alabama to William Borden and Willie Lois Martin Ray. His father passed away when he was 2 and he spent significant time with his maternal grandparents in Baileyton, Alabama. He lived with his mother and stepfather in several Alabama towns and graduated from Blount County High School. He began working at age 9 mowing lawns, picking cotton and stacking grocery store produce. At age 17, Martin came to the University of Alabama in a Chevy Coupe with $65 and worked his way through by selling auto supplies out of the car. After one year at the UA School of Law, he was drafted and sent to Germany. When he returned, he finished law school and survived on tomato sandwiches; he said “and I grew the tomatoes.” He began practicing law in 1960 and learned to handle “whatever came in the door – no one specialized much then.” Significantly, he represented several of the West Alabama area school boards for many years, including through the desegregation era. In 2007, the Tuscaloosa County Bar Association presented him with the Pillars of the Bar Award.
Martin was a long-time respected member of the Tuscaloosa community. His service included the Jaycees, Exchange Club, Y’s Men Club, CHOM Board, and The Ray Foundation which supports various local charities. He enjoyed collecting art, pottery, glassware, coins, stamps and whatever else caught his interest. As a lifelong Alabama fan, Fall Saturdays would find him in the North Zone. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church and a lover of southern gospel music. He liked to travel and had been to many regions of the U.S., Europe and most recently on a cruise to Alaska.
A Martin Ray hallmark was he always had a “project” of some type outside of his law practice. He renovated and restored three homes in the historic district, as well as numerous others around town. He could see promise in things (and people) that no one else could.
Martin was greatly loved and will be missed by his wife, family, friends, and the many people with whom he came in contact. Anyone who was around him for any length of time knew he wasn’t just an ordinary person. Martin was a presence to be experienced.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to Childrens Hands On Museum, 2113 University Blvd, Tuscaloosa AL 35401
