Deacon (Emeritus) Herman Bray, Sr.

On December 28, 1937, in Holly Grove, Arkansas, Lena Jones and Lua Bray were blessed with twin boys named Herman and Earmon. These two bundles of joy arrived right after Christmas and just before the New Year began. They were the fraternal type in all aspects. Earmon, known as "Toy," had a Smooth Dark Chocolate complexion, and Herman, known as "Red," had, well, you know, a "Red" complexion. They shared a close bond as most twins do, yet they were very different - like night and day. If you know, you know.

As with most families who lived in the south during this period, the Brays lived and worked on a farm. Around the 2nd or 3rd grade, "Red" retired from formal education and began working full-time to help support his family. It was during this time he developed a distaste for eating chicken! He would give two reasons for this: he raised them as pets and saw what chickens ate.

On June 28, 1958, Red and Ruthie Mae Goodrich entered into Holy Matrimony. Soon after their wedding, Red and his bride, whom he lovingly referred to as "Mae," participated in The Great Migration and moved to Denver, Colorado, in search of a better life. This was the norm for many Black families during that time. They chose Denver at the suggestion of Lua and Lena, who had already made the move and were enjoying the better standard of life afforded them by Lua's job at the Denver Petroleum Club.

Shortly after moving to Denver, the Brays became founding members of Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church. Red was a faithful and dedicated member. He was a member of the Deacon and the Trustee boards. His Rising Star family acknowledged his long-time dedication by bestowing him with the title: Deacon Emeritus.

Red was officially employed as a Tow Truck Driver for Luby Chevrolet. He held this position for over 30 years and rarely, if ever, missed work. He also worked part-time jobs as a custodian at Mountain States Bank and Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church to support his family. After retiring from Luby Chevrolet, he continued to work both part-time jobs for several years.

When he wasn't working one of his three jobs, he could be found in his backyard or in his garage working on somebody's car. Many of you reading these words will nod your head and remember a time or ten that he worked on your car. He had a knack for mechanical things. If Red worked on your car, you knew he would fix it correctly the first time, and you knew he would give you a bargain price. He never charged what he should have - not even close. His humble spirit would not allow him to do so. See, this was part of his ministry. This was part of what he did to give back to his fellow brothers and sisters. This was Deacon Bray's ministry. He realized he could be a blessing to others by repairing their vehicles. Many of us were able to get to work, church, graduations, weddings, vacations, etc., just because he repaired our vehicles.

When he did make the time to take some time off, he loved taking road trips with his family. Every summer, the family would spend two weeks in Clarendon and Holly Grove, Arkansas, for the "homecoming." They would also take many road trips to St. Louis, Chicago, and Wichita. The Brays also enjoyed their annual "double date" vacation with Ruthie Lee and Montrose Burns. These trips were the only times Red would get on an airplane!

Red enjoyed blues music, black walnut ice cream, and Captain Black Pipe Tobacco. He loved the Lord, his "Mae," and his family. Red was a praying man. If you know, you know. After a long and sometimes difficult journey, he never wavered in his faith. Though his earthly body would betray him, he never faltered in his love for the Lord and the Word - he remained steadfast and kept the faith. On January 19, 2022, Deacon Emeritus Herman Bray, Sr., in his usual quiet manner, closed his eyes and received his Crown from Our Lord and Savior.

Greeting him at the finish line were his mother, Lena Jones, his father, Lua Bray, twin brother Earmon Bray, three daughters-in-law, Theresa Madelyn Taylor Mills, Hari Krishan Kaur Khalsa, and Ethel Mae Marshbank Ballard; one son, Bobby Walker; one daughter, Lorraine Butler; three grandsons, David "Buster" Anthony Davis, Sean Nigel Vinson, and Darius Narkeece Walker; and one great-grandson, Darric Narkeece Appleton.

Those left with loving memories are his loving wife and faithful companion of 63 years, Ruthie Mae Bray; three sisters-in-law; Florastene Rosser of Clarendon, Arkansas; Alva Rita Lawson of Columbus, Ohio and Johnnie Mae Bray of Denver, Colorado; one brother-in-law, Johnny Goodrich of Clarendon, Arkansas; daughter, Venessa Williams of Denver, Colorado; sons, Awtar Singh Khalsa, of Espanola, New Mexico, Joseph (Laura) Banks’ and Hermon (Gwendolyn) Bray, Jr. of Denver, Colorado; Herman Hampton of Kansas and Shannon Vinson, Houston, Texas; twenty-one grandchildren, including Ethel Goodrich and Ca-Sandra Williams, both of Denver, and Tatianna Vinson of Houston, Texas whom he held an incredibly close bond. Additionally, thirty-eight great-grandchildren and thirteen great-great-grandchildren also survive.