Mr. Ray Anthony Smith Sr.

August 6, 1957 - February 4, 2021

Ray Anthony Wiggins-Smith, Sr., beloved son of Annie Wiggins-Smith was born August 6, 1957 in Harlem, New York at Harlem Hospital. On February 4, 2021 God called our loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle and and friend home. He attended P.S. 43 Elementary School in the Bronx, New York, Berger Junior High School in the Bronx, New York. He also attended Food and Maritime Culinary Art School in Manhattan, New York. Ray entered in the United States Army in August of 1974 as an infantry soldier and served his country honorable for 20 years and retired as a Staff Sergeant. He attended basic training at Fort Dix, NJ, AIT at Fort Polk, LA. His first duty station was Athens, Greece from 1974-1978, Erlangen, Germany; 1978-1981, Fort Hood, TX; 1981-1983 Fort Bliss, TX; 1983-1985, Hanau, Germany; 1985-1988, Fort Bragg, NC; 1988-1992, Camp Carroll, Korea; 1992-1993, Fort Bragg, NC; 1993-1994 until his retirement. The awards that SSG Ray Smith, Sr. received during his military career were: 6 Army Good Conduct Medals, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal–ZOLC, 2 Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons, Meritorious Service Medal and an original founding member of the Patriot Missile Program and a host of other honors. Ray wasn’t a stranger to anyone that he met. He loved to encourage, joke, mentor and help anyone he could. He was a community advocate. He was an active participant in the Foxfire Community as President and Chaplain. He absolutely loved participating in the community fish fry. He served as the Chaplain of the Retired Signal Soldiers Association. He also was involved in promoting voting rights and supporting local officials. Ray was an ordained Minister at Sperring Memorial Baptist Church. He is preceded in death by his mother, Annie Wiggins-Smith; brother, James Smith, Jr. (Pee-Wee), and nephew, James Barnes. He leaves to cherish his memories his childhood sweetheart, the love of his life, his wife of 45 years, Lisa Garnette Diggins-Smith; his daughters, Tegra Latise Smith-Thomas of Fayetteville, NC, Dakia Dynear Smith of Raeford, NC and Charmae Nicole Smith-Manley (husband Jeff) of Saraland, AL; his son, Ray Anthony Smith, Jr. of Chapel Hill, NC; grandsons, Jefferey Michael Manley II of Saraland, AL, Daniel Joel Manley of Saraland, AL; his favorite and only granddaughter, Mikayla Simone Thomas of Fayetteville, NC; his sisters, Jimmie Barnes-Whitley (husband Rayvon) of Bronx, NY, Rochelle Darrisaw of Boston, MA; his nephews, Terrance Barbee and Tyrell Barbee both of Bronx, NY; his nieces, Renee Barnes (his favorite niece) and Tashia Rogers both of Bronx, NY, Tanasha Burton and Tierra Burton both of Boston, MA; great nephew, Karllee Barbee of Bronx, NY; great niece, Jamay Frazier of Bronx, NY; a host of extended family and friends.