Clarence Raymond "Ray" Ransom

Mr. Ransom was my Band Director at SBEC. He taught me to play the trumpet and baritone horn. Under his tutelage, the SBEC Marching Trojans was one of the best bands in the Tennessee.

Thank you for everything you taught me. I will never forget it. It pains me I will never get to tell you what this truly meant in my life...

This is incredibly sad, and I am so sorry for your family! I thought he was such a great and giving Teacher. He taught me how to play alto sax at SBEC. He was very much loved by us all there. I will be praying for peace for your family.

I'm thankful that I knew Ray. He judged my students when I was a band director in West Memphis. He & Nancy also went to church with my parents, Bob & Martha Sellars, at Kirby Woods. They helped my parents when my dad was having health problems & I am very grateful. I'll be praying for the family.

Nancy and family,

I have known Ray almost from the " beginning " . We were in Boy Scouts together. I was in MYF with you and he for many years. I kissed Mary Finley in the back seat of Ray 's Dad's car, my first kiss. How could I not forget your immensely taltented husband.

I went to my waiting room once to have Ray come back and he was reading something. He showed me what it was, I was unable to read it. It was a musical score. He said he heard it in his head. I was amazed, but knew it was so.

I am saddened at his passing. John Deen, Kent Hardin, and Steve Miller have also contacted me about Ray's passing and we are deeply and profoundly sad. He was a good man.

I am so sorry for your loss. I pray for you and your family. I know that Ray has gone on to God's own orchestra. I hope he is first French Horn. It always was beautiful music to my ears.

David and Beth Morris

CB and I are so very sorry to hear of Ray's passing. Thinking of you, Nancy and family - at this time - and sending our love and prayers.

What a blessing Mr. Ransom has been to us all. A role model. Another one of our very finest musicians gone to Glory. He will be missed.

I spent three years working on parking lot duty with Mr. Ransom at Horn Lake Middle School. Talking and joking with him was always one of the highlights of my school day. He loved his family, music, trivia, band competitions, the Memphis Tigers, Mississippi State, and Jeopardy. I was happy when he retired, but I miss our talks. He kept our minds off of the sweltering heat, pouring rain, or freezing cold asking me trivia (we both took the Jeopardy audition online every year) or commenting about, "What was Paster thinking last night?" or recapping the previous weekend's games or band competitions. I am so sorry to hear about him. He is in a better place, but he will truly be missed here.

Ray is someone I have looked up to--first as a musician, then as a Christian man--for 50 years. Such a great example! I'm so grateful for having known him.

Sending healing prayers and comforting hugs to you Nancy, and your family from us, the Cohens. We are so deeply sorry to hear about Ray. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers during this time. You and Ray were always such a beautiful couple and a true example of what love and marriage should be.
Love,
Jerry, Anna Kaye, Marta, Larry and Judy

Professor Ransom was a great man who was passionate about music. You could see the love he had for it through every word he spoke. He always bragged on his children and grandchildren, and the love of his love (his high school sweetheart). My heart goes out to all he loved and all who loved him.

Ray will be missed by almost everyone he has ever known. White Station has lost long time Spartan. Ray and Nancy were some of the most dedicated Memphis State Tigers fans ever to go ball game. Ray had a genuine Christian love for all people. We will miss him greatly but we all know he is now in the best home ever.

We send our sincere condolences to the family of Ray Ransom, we worked together during my 20 YEAR tenure with the Memphis City Schools and often exchanged ideas about motivating students to become excellent musicians. Ray was truly an inspirational and motivational individual who impacted the lives of many students within the city of Memphis..The Band World has lost one of it's most outstanding Pioneers and Ray's memory will be embedded in the minds and hearts of many of his peers and band students...may his soul REST IN PEACE

With love and deepest sympathy to you, Nancy and the whole family from your Yankee friends in Minneapolis. We have many fond memories of ya'll in Memphis and gatherings over the years. My mom and dad, aunt and uncle and grandparents were blessed to have Ray and you, Clarence and Janice in their lives. Ray was a great guy and it's hard to think he's gone. So sorry for you all! God bless!

A great man, who very patiently (sometimes not as patiently) taught a bunch of us at ECS. Thank you Mr Ransom, fond memories to last a lifetime.

i will cherish the many times we played in horn sections. My students enjoyed playing for him as adjudicator at solo and ensemble. I know his family will miss him, but I hope they receive solace from the fact that he helped so many students and contributed so much as a music educator and performer. He has a wonderful legacy. My prayers and condolences.

Memories of 4th of July picnics, our moms' meet and eats, Hot Springs trips, walking to your house in that 18 inch snow, playing games, Fontana Village trip, we had some of the best times together in our childhood. Those memories will be cherished for all of my life. Those times are some of the greatest blessings of my life. Thank you for all that you will always be to me.
Tom (Tommy) Caldwell from our Memphis days

Mrs. Ransom and family. I am so sorry for your loss. Mr. Ransom was always so kind to me as I was growing up at Kirby Woods. Jesus was very evident in his life. Please know you all are in my thoughts and prayers.

Nancy,
We cannot even imagine what you and your family are going through. You are in and will continue to be in our prayers. It has been my privilege to have served alongside Ray and you at the Union Mission. We ache for you and ask our Father to give you peace and comfort through His presence.

Dear Ray,

God put you on this earth to choose a path for your life and you chose wisely. Your remarkable family is evidence of your love for the lord. You have been a special friend, not only to me, but to Judy and my family. It is with certainty that you have blessed countless others in the same way with your kindness and inspiration.

We have spent many hours together over the years and in every instance you made me smile and laugh regardless of the circumstances. Your ability to remember names, times and events was astounding as you showed the world what it is like to truly care about everyone in a meaningful and heartfelt way. You lived your life with spirit, passion and a sense of urgency and with that came rewards for so many people.

Your genuine love for Nancy, Meredith, Matt and Mallory was part of every conversation. They represent what is good in this world and your ever present spirit will be with all of us until we meet in heaven.

Thank you Ray. Thank you for showing us how to care for one another. Thank you for going the extra mile to help. Thank you for demonstrating your faith and love of Jesus Christ, our Savior. God bless you Ray.

Your loving friend,

David

I had the honor of working with Mr. Ransom at HLMS. He was truly a nice guy and passionate about his craft. Praying for comfort for the family.

Mrs. Ransom and family, my deepest condolences on the loss of Mr. Ransom, one of the most genuine people I have ever met. May God bring you peace and rest in this time of loss.

Band parents seem to be "everyone's parents". Never was this more true than with Mr. and Mrs. Ransom. It was an honor to be under the direction of Mr. Ransom and I am a better person for having grown up with the Ransom family in my life. I send my condolences to Mrs. Ransom, Matt, Meredith, Mallory, and the extended family.

I worked with Mr. Ransom at HLMS. We had lunch time together. I always enjoyed talking to him. He was funny and always joyful. He will truly be missed. My prayers are with the family.
Deloise Oliver HLMS

Rest in peace Mr. Ransom. He truly was passionate about his music


Linda Straw
Horn Lake Middle School.

Nancy & Family I am so very sorry for your loss, I remember Ray & his smiling face as he played in the orchestra at Kirby Woods. He always had a smile on his face. Nancy right now I am just not ready to go to funerals so please know that I am praying for you. Last night the Messiah concert at Mid America was dedicated to him.

I just wanted to express my condolences. Mr. Ransom was such a wonderful man. My Colonial Jr. High School Band director will always have a special place in my heart. That smile and that laugh are unforgetable, much like him. Meredith, Matt, and family; you are in our hearts, thoughts and prayers.
Dr. Roneferiti M. Fowler

My heartfelt condolences to Nancy and family. Band with Mr. Ransom was the one positive thing in my high school experience. I will always remember his encouraging words, and he played a large part in making me the musician I am today.

Ray was a friend of mine for many years. He taught my kids at Colonial and I worked with him when he became assistant principal at Hamilton High School. It has been several years since I spoke with him but I never lost respect for him. God's blessings to the family.