Ray Clenson Orr, Jr.

Ray Clenson Orr Jr., also known as “Lil Ray” or “Le’Ray” was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 27, 1962 to the loving, proud parents of Juanita (deceased) and Ray C. Orr Sr. (deceased).  Ray was the fourth of six siblings:  Valerie, Deborah, Rhonda (deceased), Ray Clenson, Janice, and Rosalynn.

Ray grew up in Cleveland, Ohio where he attended Ramah Jr. Academy, and later graduated from Pine Forge Academy in Pennsylvania.  From there he went on to attend Oakwood University.  Ray demonstrated a strong love for God and traveled to Africa as an Oakwood University Missionary.

At Oakwood University, Ray met and did wed (Sandra {Divorced}) the mother of:  Ray Clenson Orr III, Roosevelt Orr Jones, and Amanda Orr.   

Ray C. Orr Jr. served in the United States Navy from 1986 to 1994, which included service in Okinawa, Japan.  His duties in the Navy included Field Medical Service Tech, and General Duty Hospital Corpsman.  He received the following medals:  National Defense Service Medal; Good Conduct; Navy Fleet Marine Force Ribbon Meritorious Unit Citation.

After leaving the Navy, Ray C. Orr Jr. continued to work in the medical field.  Upon relocating to Maryland, Ray secured employment at the Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital and worked as a Healthcare Provider. 

Ray C. Orr Jr. sought after and found his wife Yonghong Zhou.  He traveled to China where Zhou and Ray married on March 2, 2015.   Zhou brought to the marriage her son Yisen Wang.  They lived as a family in Clarksville, MD until Ray’s demise. 

It was on Sunday morning, October 20, 2024 when Mr. Ray Orr Jr. unexpectedly said goodbye to this world.  He was transported from his home in Clarksville, Maryland to The Holy Cross, Germantown Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

Eulogy

Ray C. Orr Jr. cherished the word of God.  He enjoyed singing (at some point in his life) and listening to good Godly music.  He really enjoyed the Heritage Singers. 

Ray often shared with family about an app that he had found to listen to the word of God with.  He cautioned that the most important thing is “not to lose your soul.”  Ray strived to be a servant of God and a friend to man.  He would say, “I don’t have money, but whatever I have I will share it.”

Ray C. Orr Jr. also enjoyed watching and playing sports (basketball), and worked out at gyms often. He enjoyed kid cartoons.  He spent time watching Chinese dramas and would share the connections he had found between their stories and God’s word.  Ray enjoyed smiling, laughing, and joking.  He also enjoyed technology.

He enjoyed eating healthy:  blueberries, watermelon, and lots of vitamins.  He also enjoyed an extra- large bowl of cereal, not to mention ice-cream!

Ray C. Orr Jr. leaves to cherish beautiful memories; his beloved wife:  Yonghong Zhou; his stepson:  Yison Wang; two sons: (Musician) Ray Clenson Orr III, (In Military Service) Roosevelt Jones (Verena) - (Grandson Jeremiah Lee Jones); his daughter:  Major Amanda Russell (Sean), their mother-Sandra Orr; his sisters: Valerie Bishop (MacAurther {deceased}), Deborah Trotter (Michael), Janice Simms (R. Simms), and Rosalynn Orr Tangara (B. Tangara).  Ray C. Orr Jr. leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and many friends.

Preceding him in his passing:  His father, Ray C. Orr Sr., his mother, Juanita Moore Orr, and his sister, Rhonda M. Gardner.

Ray was the only brother of his siblings.  He provided a major Godly presence when around.  Without a doubt, he will truly be mourned and missed by family members, his colleagues, and the Veteran patients that he cared for while at the VA Hospital.

His prayer for himself was:  Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.” I invite you, as he invited me to adopt this prayer as your own.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ray Clenson Orr, Jr., please visit our floral store.