February 5, 2014
The
Portland Observer
Black History Month
Page 17
■ -A H ’ H
Father and Church Deacon Remembered
Rayford Leon Givens
Funeral services for Rayford Leon Givens, will be
held Thursday, Feb. 6 at 10 a.m. at St. Paul Missionary
Baptist Church, 8101 N. Fiske Ave. Burial with military
honors will follow at 1 p.m. at Willamette National
Cemetery.
He was bom July 29, 1934 in Wellston, Okla., the
eldest of eight children to the late Ameda Battle
Givens and Princy G. Givens.
When he was just 8 months old, the family moved
to Phoenix, Ariz. He attended Mary McLeod Bethune
School and Carver High School in Phoenix, graduating
in 1952.
In 1954, he joined the Marine Corps, saying at the
time that he wanted to join the toughest branch of
service. Later, he confessed that it was “extremely
tough” and he wondered what in the world was he
thinking. But, nevertheless he went on to serve duty
in Japan, also in the Cuban Missile Crisis and two tours
in Vietnam. By God’s grace, he served without injury
and retired from the Marine Corps in 1977 with more
than 20 years of honorable service. Later, he was hired
on at the Postal Service, where he gave 17 more years
of public service.
Before his mihtary career, he married Sharon Marlene
Rhodes (Penny); they later divorced. To this union
three daughters were bom, Sandra, Adriene, and
Donna. Ray later met and married Cora Mae Williams;
this union also ended in divorce.
He received Christ into his life and joined St. Paul
Missionary Baptist Church, becoming a member of the
church’s Brother Hood, and later was ordained a
deacon. He took great pride in volunteering as the
head barbecue cook for church events. He served as
a Sunday school teacher and superintendent. He also
became a member of the church’s m en’s chorus and
was a mentor to many.
Preceding him in death were three brothers, Charles,
Wilburt and Robert Stanley Givens. He leaves to mom
and cherish fond memories, his daughters; sisters,
Doris Jean Hendrix, Rose Marie Martin and Mary
Elouise Givens; a brother Deacon Fred Givens and
sister-in-law Shirley Givens; 15 grandchildren, 21 great
grandchildren; 10 nieces, 3 nephews and a host of
grand nieces and grand nephews, many relatives and
friends.
t BtWF c«wr»ior«goncowl
T erry F amily
In Loving Memory
F uneral
H ome
Clark Owens
Funeral services for Clark Owens will be held
Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 11 a.m. at Maranatha Church
in northeast Portland. Viewing is scheduled for
Monday, Feb. 10 between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at
Terry Family Funeral Home:
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