LaVerne Ray was born September 4, 1943 in St. Louis. She was the fourth child born to the union of the late Sherman and Arther Lee (Sue) Strickland. Her sisters Clara Curry and Lucille Lloyd-King preceded her in death.
She accepted Christ as her personal savior at an early age and was a member of New White Stone M.B. Church under the leadership of Pastor R.L. Surratt. LaVerne and her four sisters formed a gospel singing group known as the Strickland Sisters. She was a faithful member of New White Stone where she served as a choir member and vice president of the usher board.
Laverne was educated at Hadley Tech High School, and later was joined in holy matrimony to Homer F. Ray. To this union they were blessed with one daughter Kimberly Ann Ray Redus. From 1965 to 1998 LaVerne worked at Barnes Jewish Hospital as a registrar in the eye and medicine clinics. She was known to everyone as “Ray.”
She was blessed with four granddaughters, from the union of Kimberly and Leonard Redus. In addition to being a wonderful mother and grandmother, she never missed an opportunity to help anyone in need. She will be remembered for her extraordinary strength and endurance and will be greatly missed.
She leaves to cherish her memory a devoted daughter and son-n-law, Kimberly A. Ray Redus and Leonard M. Redus Jr.; four granddaughters: Alexia, Brielyn, Gabrielle, and Jordynn Redus; two sisters, Dorothy Williams and Barbara Scales; godparents Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Brown; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends; and the entire New White Stone M.B. Church.