Mr. Ray Bumpus

Ray James Bumpus 96, of Liberty, North Carolina was born on January 1, 1928, to the late Thessalonia and Geneva Garret Bumpus in Randolph County.  He departed this life peacefully in the early morning on Sunday, February 25, 2024.

Ray loved the Lord and was a life member of St. Stephen AME Church in Liberty, NC, where he was instrumental in helping to build the current building as well as the church parsonage.  He was known for going to worship wherever church service was happening.   When his late wife stopped driving, he began attending Lewis Grove Holiness Church so that he would be able to take her to her home church for service.  The members of Lewis Grove Holiness Church embraced him and when he stopped driving members would pick him up and bring him back home from church.

Ray graduated from the Randolph County School system, upon graduation he enlisted in the Army and was a World War II Veteran.  Returning from the war, he attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. 

Ray retired from the Liberty Furniture Company and was an avid farmer; he could make anything grow.  He farmed up until his health would no longer allow him to farm.   He was a sports fanatic, he loved his San Francisco 49’ers, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Lakers.

Ray was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 68 years, Cladie Curtis Bumpus, stepsons: William Curtis & Thomas Bumpus; brothers, Ervin Bumpus, James Bumpus & Lonnie Bumpus, sister Mamie Wilhite; grandson, Christopher Patterson & great granddaughter, DeShunna Patterson.   

He leaves to cherish his memory, step daughter, Edith Patterson of Liberty, NC, granddaughters: Angelique Neal (Jerry) of Fredericksburg, VA, Tawanda Patterson of New York, NY,  Alicia Bumpus of Humble, TX, Sonya Curtis of Viera, FL, grandson: Kelvin Patterson (Marlin) of Tampa, FL, great granddaughters: Jana Johnson (Bruce) of Rochester, NY, Tyler Whitener of Tampa, FL, Raven Patterson of El Paso, TX, Jaeda Patterson of Temecula, FL, Madison Patterson of New York, NY, great grandsons: Morgon Patterson of New York, NY, Douglas Campbell of Fredericksburg, VA, Christopher Patterson (Brianna), Oceanside, CA, great- great granddaughter, Shiloh Johnson of Rochester, NY; sister: Dorothy Smith of Greensboro, NC, sister in laws: Peggy Dark of Snow Camp, NC and Lou Bumpus of Liberty, NC and a host of nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.

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