In Memory of my baby/son Ray Carroll Childree Jr.
Ray Jr. came into this world on February 3, 1980 and he was a delight to see. His Granny called him her "Short Stop". He was just such a joy's baby and everyone loved him. As he got older everyone said he was going to be a real heart breaker. Well, he only had 2 girlfirends and they were both very lovely girls.
This is a baby pic RAY JR. 1980
He played softball for a few years. Then he got into basketball. He really loved his basketball. He would be out on the courts till all hours of the night with his friends..and that he had a lot of. No matter who you were, race, anything, he would be your friend. He was really a people person, that is for sure.
This is Ray Jr. and his best friend Dusty in 1995
He loved his truck too. Always wanting to do something with it cause it was a fixer upper..and his music, boy was he crazy about that.
Well, I really don't know what happened to him to cause him to want to do what he did. But he was having some problems in school, with some of the teachers that is. A lot of it was because of who he hung with and how he dressed. There was one who made a smart remark to him, and I told them at the school board and he said he would check into it.
Well, it never happened for Ray took his life that night. One of the last things he said to me was "Mama, how was I being a smarty because I would not answer him." I told him not to worry about it cause I didn't feel like he was. So you can believe I was really upset with the school and almost everyone there. But then one teacher came to our house that day after school - the day of his death - to bring me some of his work and tell me how proud of him she was. She said most of her students didn't speark to her in the halls but she said he always made sure that he spoke to her and ask how she was doing. Boy did I start crying and just thanked her so much. I think about her all the time too.
This is Ray Jr. behind me with his hand on my shoulder, his girlfriend,Christina, beside me, my husband Ray Sr. behind her, his Aunt Pat, her son Joe behind her and her daughter Mary beside her. We were at Panama City beach.
Well, I was the one to find my baby and I thank God his wound was in his stomach. It hit the main artery to his heart. We were told he did not suffer and that was a relief to know.
The next day when we finally went into his room to find him some clothes to wear, we found his stereo still on and on repeat of "Dear Mama" by Topac. God, did I break down again. So I played that song at his services and also "Crossroads" by Bones Thugs and Harmony.
It has been 6 years now but I still hurt just as though it happened all over again.
Well baby, you are free now...like you said in your note: "only God can judge me now."
He had a tattoo of Jesus on his arm with a blood tear drop that was the last one he had done...and I took him to get it..I really liked it too.
"We will meet you at the crossroads"
Missing and loving you,
MAMA 4-EVER
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In Memory of Ray C. Childree Jr.
