RAYMOND FISHER YOUNG

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;

A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

A time to breakdown, and a time to buildup;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose;

A time to keep, and a time to cast away

A time to rend, and a time to sew;

A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate;

A time of war, and a time of peace.

(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, KJV)

A TIME TO GROW

Raymond Young was born to Edgar Henry Young and Amy Julia Berryman on November 13, 1941. He was the youngest of seven children and grew up on a farm in Leesburg, Virginia. Ray attended Mountain Gap School and Douglas High School where he sang in the glee club, played in the band, played on the football and basketball teams, and drove the school bus.  In his early years, he developed a love of music, sports, and gardening.

At the urging of his high school biology teacher, Joyce Peterson, Ray entered Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia.  He majored in Biology, pledged Alpha Phi Alpha, was a member of the German Club and played in the University Band.  Ray was always eager to explore and learn new things.  He graduated in 1964 and continued his education at Howard University's College of Dentistry.

A TIME TO LOVE

While at Virginia Union, Ray met the love of his life, Peggy Stewart, and married her October 23,1965.  To this union Ray and Peggy had three children, Ray, Jr., Anne, and Jeffrey.  They raised their children in a Christian home filled with good food, love, and laughter.  Ray and Peggy taught their children the love of the Lord and joined Alfred Street Baptist Church in 1978 where Ray enjoyed playing in the Handbell Choir, playing on ASBC's softball team, and serving on the Men's Usher Board.

A TIME TO WORK

Ray began his career teaching at the Howard University College of Dentistry.  He served in the Army and worked as a dental officer in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.  After his service, Ray returned to Howard and continued to teach and began his dental practice in Alexandria and Falls Church, Virginia.  Ray's practice grew and eventually he left teaching to focus solely on his dental practice.  In addition to working in private practice for over 30 years, he also served the Commonwealth of Virginia as a dentist, providing medical care in the state for more than a decade.

A TIME TO REST

With the onset of the COVID pandemic, Ray decided it was time to put down his drill.  He and Peggy moved back to his family homestead, and he devoted time to his many passions.  Ray worked in the garden, took long walks, and sat on his porch enjoying life with his family and friends.

He leaves behind to remember the good times and the laughter: his wife Peggy Young; his children, Raymond Young (Jennifer), Anne Brown (Herbert), and Jeffrey Young (Kimeka); grandson Connor Young; sister-in-law Catherine Gresham; brothers-in-law, Richard Moore, Grafton Stewart, James Gwaltney, and Al Stewart; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.