Remembering Ray

The University community continued to remember the life of Jason Ray, the UNC senior who died last month, at a campus memorial service Tuesday.

Ray was known for his role as Rameses, but more than 300 students and faculty attended Tuesday’s memorial service to honor the man behind the mascot.

As students entered the George Watts Hill Alumni Center, they saw a slide show with images of Ray, highlighting his spirit.

Ray’s professor from the Kenan-Flager Business School, Alison Fragale, spoke about the impact Ray had on those he met.

“What made Jason first stand out to me . was that he was so cool, cool in the self-assured sense,” Fragale said. “He knew who he was and was at ease with himself.”

She went on to relate different stories about how Ray touched his professors’ lives. “That was par for the course for Jason – just making other people feel good by being himself,” she said.

Ray was hit by an SUV while in New Jersey last month for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. He died three days later from his injuries.

The University will award Ray with his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at graduation in May. “This is not a gift – he earned this degree,” Chancellor James Moeser said.

In addition, the BSBA Class of 2007 gift will be a study room in memory of Ray and Matthew Cossa, a junior who died last spring of cancer. The Carolina Club, where Ray worked, also named its employee of the month award after him.

Ray’s friend and bandmate Chad Hines spoke of their times together. “He loved people so well and loved his friends so well,” Hines said.

Hines read a passage from Ray’s journal, which he described as a “conversation (Ray) kept with God.” Hines emphasized Ray’s spirituality and his religious devotion.

“I’m sad beyond words, beyond tears,” Hines said. “I lost my best friend, but I have this peace. I know these things about him are true – Jason went home.”

Ray was the lead singer of the band Nine P.M. Traffic, which performed a tribute song to him.

“It was weird,” Hines said afterward about performing the song. “As far as performing, it feels like I’m empty and lonely.”

Ray’s friend and fellow member of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship James Jolley gave a final prayer. “There is victory now because Jason’s life is bigger than himself,” Jolley said.

Ray’s father, Emmitt, also gave a speech, expressing the family’s gratitude toward the attendees, saying Ray would have been “tickled to death” with the turnout.

Students and faculty stood up and joined arms, singing along to UNC’s alma mater to close the memorial.

The service was one of many that have been held in the past weeks for Ray. His family held a funeral in Concord, his hometown, at the end of March, as well as a service in his parents’ home state, Kentucky.

The memorial was scheduled for Tuesday because Ray’s parents wanted to attend.

“We got to talk to a bunch of different people,” Jolley said. “It’s symbolic of the impact he had on campus.”

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.