- Date Of Birth: May 17, 1937
- Date Of Death: June 5, 2015
- State: Georgia
Samuel Teague Ray began the journey of his life on May 17, 1937. He was born in Carrboro, North Carolina, and was the son of the late William Benson Ray and Christine Teague Ray.
Sam graduated from Western Carolina University with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and later obtained a Master’s degree from Tulane in Public Health. He went on to work for the United States Public Health Service. During the next 32 years, he worked with the immunization and care of Cuban and Haitian boat immigrants, eradication of infectious diseases in New York and New Jersey, and assisted in developing policies and procedures for Medicare and Medicaid. These programs built and established clinics in the rural South and recruited doctors to provide health care to communities that lacked health care services. Upon his retirement from The Public Health Service, Sam, along with his wife JoAnn, began a business constructing residential properties. Sam and JoAnn were deeply interested in the preservation of historical properties and worked with JoAnn through the Newnan Coweta Historical Society towards that end. His interest in preserving one of Newnan’s most important historic properties, The Newnan Hospital on Jackson Street led him to write a proposal to the Mayor, Coweta County Commissioners, and, at that time hospital administrator Glenn Flake 2004, concerning the possibility of the hospital becoming a college campus, should the University of West Georgia decide to relocate their campus. This vision has just become a reality as the University has opened for classes for the current term. Sam served his country in The United States Army from 1958 to 1960. He was stationed in Germany and worked on a secured missile base. While living in Newnan, Sam was a very active member of Rotary. He was awarded the Ronnie Waller Fellow, The Will Wyatt Fellow, Georgia Student Program Hue Holmes, Jr. Fellow, and A. Kendall Weisiger Fellow during his years in the club. A favorite saying of Sam’s was “you own nothing in this world except your reputation and it is up to you, personally, to care for it”. Mission accomplished!
Sam is survived by his wife, JoAnn Boozer Ray. His children are Samuel T. Ray, Jr. and wife Kendra of Cumming, GA, Susan Ray Stuckey and husband John of Ft. Myers, Jennifer Ray Good and husband Raymond of Burnsville, MN, and William Berry Ray and wife Kerri of Cumming GA. His step-children are Drake Henderson and wife Cecily of Suwanee; Laina Payne and husband Joshua of San Francisco, CA. A brother, Michael Ray also survives him. There are 17 grandchildren. Sam’s life was one of service to others and even in death, he was able to further research into the disease of Alzheimers through Emory University’s Alzheimer’s Research Center.
