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Page 10 The Skanner May 24, 2017 News Evans Ray Jr.: Starting Over; From Cocaine Dealer to Youth Counselor One of nearly 2,000 nonviolent drug offenders granted clemency by Obama speaks out By Rushawn Walters Howard University News Service WASHINGTON -- Nearly a year ago, Washington, D.C. native Evans Ray, Jr. was inside a prison cell serving a life sentence and unsure of when or wheth- er he would be released. Today, he’s home surrounded by his family and beginning a life far different from the one he left. In 2004, Ray was convicted of selling 60 grams of crack cocaine, which at that time normally carried a sentence of 10 years. Two prior low-level drug con- victions and new enhanced sentencing guidelines created under the nation’s “War on Drugs, however, resulted in Ray being sentenced to a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison. “I made a terrible mistake and it cost me everything,” Ray said. “That was a death sentence. I knew I was going to die in there.” Ray, 57, said as a young man growing up in the District of Columbia, he be- lieved the quickest and easiest way to make money was drug dealing. Spend- ing the rest of his life in jail was not something he had planned. The inordinately harsh sentences cre- ated for crack cocaine were frowned on by many long before then-President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder began drawing attention to them during his administration. For instance, the judge who sen- tenced Ray told him during his trial in 2004 that he believed the judgement was “cruel and unusual,” Ray said. Ray’s mother, Gwendolyn Bell, thought so, too. Bell, a retiree, said she believed her son should have been pun- ished for his crime, but not so harshly. “I think he should’ve done some time for the crime, but not the life sentence without the possibility of parole,” Bell said. Evans Ray, Jr. says when he speaks to kids “I tell them to never give up and not to take shortcuts. Nearly 13 years of my life was taken away because I made that bad choice.” Ray landed in a penitentiary in Inez, Kentucky, called Big Sandy. The prison, he says, was given the nickname “Killer Mountain” for its violent environment, and its recent history includes a litany of examples of violence between in- mates. Less than a year after being sen- tenced, Ray was transferred to another prison, the McCreary Penitentiary, a high-security facility near Pine Knot, Kentucky because of his high blood pressure and cholesterol. While at the new prison, Ray said he heard of then Obama’s Clemency Project and decided to fill out an ap- plication. Two months later, Ray said, he was approached by an attorney and told him he had a “poster-child case,” for clemency. Unsure of his fate, Ray said he decid- ed to write a short, personal letter to Obama as his presidential administra- tion was nearing the end in hopes it would help him be released. “I’m writing you because y’all only got seven months left and I want to thank you for all of the positive things that you’ve done for the community for all races, white, black, and Hispanic,” the letter said. He told Obama he gave “guys like him a sign of faith.” In mid-July, he received a response from Obama. The letter didn’t tell him he was released, Ray said. Instead, it ad- vised him to continue to have hope. Less than Ray’s life sentence was com- muted, less than a month after receiv- ing President Obama’s letter. “When I got the news, I walked to my cell and I put up my (a large poster board) so no one could see in, and I got on my knees and prayed, and I thanked God,” he said. Now, Ray is back in Washington liv- ing with his mother and working as a counselor and mentor at the Commu- nity Empowerment Training Academy, a nonprofit organization that provides job training and other services for in- ner-city Washington youth. “My job consists of me speaking to the kids in reference to what I’ve been through,” he said. “I tell them to never give up and not to take shortcuts. Nearly 13 years of my life was taken away because I made that bad choice.” Ray has been looking for work, but it has been difficult, he said, because even though he was granted clemency, he still has a prison record, which scares off many employers. While working at the academy, Ray said, he’s put out “hundreds” of re- sumes for jobs without success. Still, he remains optimistic. Read the rest of this story at TheSkanner.com OBITUARY: Joan E. Bailey July 11, 1934 – April 15, 2017 O n the afternoon piest when all of her of April 15, 2017 children, grandchil- at 3:15 p.m., dren and great-grand- Joan Bailey was children were around, called home to be with and before she became the Lord. Her family ill, could be found was with her and sang making delicious to her as she gently meals, along with her passed from this life. famous rolls, for them Mrs. Bailey was all to enjoy! born on July 11, 1934 Mrs. Bailey is sur- in the little coal min- vived by her sister, ing town of Boomer, Ora Yvonne, and six Joan E. Bailey West Virginia. She children: Ora (Domi- was the eighth of 12 children born to nic), Robert Jr. (Dale), Jodell (Karen), Odell Richard and Maud Ora Win- Tracey (Michelle), Bradford, and ston. One sibling, a sister, survives Walter. There are also eleven grand- her. children and seven great-grandchil- Mrs. Bailey attended Anderson dren. College before she met and married The entire Bailey family wishes to Robert E. (Bob) Bailey, Sr. in 1954. thank all of her family and friends She was a pillar of the community for their love, phone calls, offers of because of her love of children and help, and prayers. We are also grate- provided in-home day care services ful to all of her caregivers, especial- for many families throughout the ly the amazing care she received Portland area. Mrs. Bailey was also from her Kaiser hospice team. instrumental in creating the Head Mrs. Bailey requested no funeral, start program that is still in opera- however, please join us as we joy- tion today in the Woodlawn Build- ously celebrate her life on Wednes- ing (formerly Woodlawn United day, July 19 at 1:00 p.m., at the Methodist Church). Woodlawn Building (former- Nothing was more important to ly Woodlawn United Methodist Mrs. Bailey than the love of the Lord Church), located at 1425 NE Dekum and loving her family. She was hap- Street, Portland.
