Eileen F. Ray

Eileen Frances Ray Obituary Eileen Frances Ray, daughter of the late Weldon Wiley Ray and Marjorie Hunter Ray, was born on July 19, 1953, in Washington, D.C. Eileen was the third of four children. As a child, Eileen cultivated a passion for books and continued to be a voracious reader throughout her life. She loved old movies and vintage television. Her favorite movie was the Gene Kelly musical, “Singing in the Rain.” She knew every number and note of many film scores, even being able to hear classic Disney songs and identify the composers. She also grew up as an avid fan of the original Star Trek television series and, for a time, would attend Trekkie conventions all over the country. Eileen received her early Christian education at Bible Way Church of Washington, D.C. She was also educated in the District of Columbia Public School System and graduated with honors from McKinley Technical High School in 1971. During her high school years, she was the captain of McKinley Tech’s “It’s Academic” Team that participated in the weekly local television academic competition that pitted area high schools against each other. Eileen continued her education at Howard University, where she received a full scholarship, majored in Liberal Arts, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1975. She then studied law at Catholic University, where she also was awarded a full scholarship and received her Juris Doctor degree in 1978. While a law student, Eileen participated in Moot Court and worked at the law school’s Columbus Community Legal Services program assisting poor and disadvantaged clients in the District. Her desire to continue pursuing social justice led Eileen to begin her professional career at the Legal Services Bureaus in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Eileen returned to her family home in Washington, D.C. in 1989, to help care for her then, aging parents. It was then that she continued her legal career at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where she had perhaps her greatest achievements and impact as a lawyer. During her thirty-year tenure at HUD, Eileen was known as the expert on federal laws and regulations prohibiting housing discrimination. She made many important contributions to a wide variety of HUD programs and served as a mentor to a great number of new attorneys. After experiencing a major accident in 2018 that left her unable to walk, Eileen continued to pursue her duties at HUD until she retired in 2019 from her position of Deputy Assistant General Counsel, Office of Fair Housing in the Office of General Counsel. Eileen was a dedicated and loving daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She doted on her many nieces and nephews and other young children in her life. Eileen was known for her sense of humor and vast knowledge of a myriad of subjects. Eileen loved to cook and was well known for her turkey meatballs and pecan pies at special occasions. She also volunteered for several years at the SHARE Food Network distribution site in Bladensburg, Maryland. Most of all Eileen was known for her humble, kind, and gentle spirit and her unswerving desire to help anybody whether it be family, friends or most importantly, those that the system had failed or left behind. After experiencing several major health challenges, Eileen transitioned peacefully at Washington Hospital Center on December 23, 2022. In addition to her parents, Eileen was predeceased by her sister Elsie "Blanche" Brooks, niece Marlynn Brooks, and great-nephew Gary Brooks. Eileen leaves to cherish her memory her brother Arthur Ray (Tanya); sister Raynetta Ray; six nieces: Donna Brooks, Valencia Brooks, Yolanda Brooks, Yvette Hummons (Kevin), Lauren Ray, and Alta Ray; one nephew: Aaron Ray; and four great-nieces: Brittani Cherry, Bithiah Cherry, Nichelle Vann, and Sana’a Hummons. She also leaves to mourn her death her great-great niece and nephew Kamiya and Kasire Edwards, many cousins, dear friends, and colleagues, including devoted friends Sheila Bradley and Estelle Franklin.

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Eileen F. Ray

July 19, 1953 - December 23, 2022