Ray Hockaday

Leonard Ray Hockaday, Jr.

Leonard Ray Hockaday, Jr., 68, of Roanoke Rapids died June 11, 2020 at his home.

Ray was born January 16, 1952 in Iredell County, NC to the late Leonard Ray Hockaday, Sr. and Dorothy Green Hockaday. Ray was also preceded in death by his sister, Susan Ellen Hockaday; and his uncle W.B. “Bill” Green; his aunt, Mary G. Jones.

Ray was a lifetime member of New Hope United Methodist Church. Ray graduated from William R. Davie High School in 1970. He was a 1973 graduate of Mount Olive College and a 1975 graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in Atlanta. Ray was a former member of the Board of Directors, was a delegate for the church for the Methodist Conference for eight years. He was very active in the Men’s Breakfast Club and the Methodist Men’s Club at New Hope United Methodist Church. Ray was a former member of the Roanoke Rapids Jaycees, where he served on the Board of Directors for many years and chaired many projects. He was runner up for Jaycee of the year. He was a former member of the optimist Club in Roanoke Rapids. He was employed in 1976 at Hockaday Funeral Home as a Licensed Embalmer and Funeral Director, where he served 44 years until his death. He loved the funeral home staff as his own family. Ray served families from all walks of life. His late father was the founder of Hockaday Funeral Home in 1957. Ray never met a stranger and was willing to help people not only in a time of grief and sorrow, but as a helping friend to others. Ray's hobbies were water skiing, boating, photography and golf. He enjoyed shagging to beach music and traveling with the Bryn-Mars Band. He was accepted as a life member of the National Registry of Who’s Who published in the 1999 edition. He was a member of the Eastern Packard Club which was founded in 1964 in Stratford, Ct. Ray was a former Junior Governor of the Roanoke Valley Moose Lodge.

Ray is survived by his sister, Marilyn Harding and her husband Jim of Raleigh; his aunt, Dorothy “Dot” Green of Roanoke Rapids and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M. Wednesday, June 17, 2020 in the chapel of Hockaday Funeral and Cremation with Rev. Sue Owens, Rev. Jimmy King and Nelson High, CLM officiating. Burial will follow in Cedarwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7:30 – 8:30 P.M. Tuesday, June 16, 2020 at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to New Hope United Methodist Church, PO Box 2117, Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870 or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Due to CDC recommendations for COVID-19, (social distancing is encouraged as well as a decrease in group gatherings). Live stream of the funeral service will be available by visiting https://www.facebook.com/carlislencompany/.