Johnny Ray

Jeanne & I loved Johnny very much he was a very careing man. My Blessing go to you, stay strong. Honey.

Johnny Ray was a man with a warm, infectious personality. I first met him in the '60s...and within minutes, felt we had been friends forever. He was a rare man. My heart goes out to the family for their tragic loss.

My prayers are with the Ray family.He always would take the time to talk to you and share memories of the good ole days with you. I grew up eating at Johnny Ray's. He was a real icon to Birmingham. He will be missed..

I want to express my sincerest sympathy to Johnny Ray's family. I remember eating at Johnny's restaurant in Roebuck Shopping Center when I was a child in the late 50s and 60s. My mother & I would ride the bus from Center Point when we needed to shop and would sometimes stop by for a sandwich & coke. He was very young & thin then and was always busy cooking, and his mother ran the cash register at the end of the line. They were always warm and friendly to us. It was a very pleasant childhood...

Years ago when my family(the Norwoods and the Martins)would have their family get togethers, the Rays were always included. We were only related by marriage, but the bond went much deeper and still does. It has been my pleasure to know Johnny Ray. He was a wonderful man, as was and is his entire family. He could make you feel wonderful when you were down, and make you feel at home in his home and business establishments. Trader John's was our "Cheers", and we will always have happy memories...

Honey,
Johnny Ray will be sadly missed by all that knew him.
Joe & Debbi Hacker
CheckCare Systems

Our prayers and thoughts go out to you all in the loss of such a legend in our community. My husband Gene used to work at Liberty Super Mkt. and got to know Ray well, Ray bought our dinner one night when we ran into him while dining in a The Sunset Rest. in Panama City. He will be missed. God Bless you all.

It was always a pleasure to eat at Johnnies on Valley Avenue when he was there. I managed Omega Tires on Green Springs and ate with him quite often. He was a ray of sunshine!