Services set for Jason Ray

UNC News Services

Services have been scheduled for Jason Ray, a member of UNC’s cheerleading team who died this week.

Ray, 21, died this Monday at Hackensack University Medical Center. Ray, a UNC senior, was injured in a pedestrian/vehicle accident in Fort Lee, NJ, before the UNC Men’s basketball team game on Friday. He was pronounced dead by doctors at 8:38 a.m.

The family will hold a viewing and visitation from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, March 30, at Concord First Assembly in Concord. The funeral service is Saturday at 11 a.m., also at Concord First Assembly.

Ray was in New Jersey to perform as the Tar Heels’ mascot, Rameses, in the NCAA Men’s Basketball East Regional in East Rutherford on Friday and Sunday. Dozens of family and friends gathered at the hospital’s Surgical Intensive Care Unit since the accident.

“Our family would like to thank the staff at Hackensack University Medical Center for the compassionate and professional care they provided,” said Jason’s brother, Allen, speaking on behalf of the family. “They made this terrible experience as tolerable as possible and gave solace to our family. We would also like to thank the UNC athletic department. Jason was a member of their family, and they extended their support to us and provided support to our family as we have dealt with this terrible loss.

“Jason was a wonderful son, brother and friend. He leaves behind a legacy of friendship, laughter, excitement for life and a genuine love for all the people he touched during his all-too-short life.”

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Jason Kendall Ray Memorial Fund, Concord Christian Church, 3101 Davidson Highway, Concord, NC 28027.

“Jason believed in organ donation and in the sharing of the gift of life,” Allen Ray said. “His organs will be donated to the Sharing Network of New Jersey. We hope that Jason’s gift will be able to help up to 50 people in critical need of transplant.”

“This is a devastating loss to the Ray family and our university community,” said director of athletics Dick Baddour. “Jason had many talents. Over the last several days, we have heard from so many people who said Jason went above the call of duty to brighten their days and make their child smile and laugh. He may have performed in the anonymity that comes with playing the mascot, but his life has had an overt and lasting impact on the people whose lives he touched. Our hearts and prayers again go out to his family and friends in this time of extraordinary grief.”

Jason was majoring in business administration with a concentration in marketing at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School and was working toward a minor in religious studies. He had played the Ram mascot for the past three seasons.

“Jason gave Rameses an energy that was unique,” said UNC cheerleading coach Brown Walters. “He embodied all of the qualities you would want in a team member. He was a tremendous ambassador of the University of North Carolina and that spirit will live on forever. The Carolina Spirit Program has lost a member of our family and he will be deeply missed.”

“The loss of Jason Ray will be felt by all of us who love and care about Carolina,” said Chancellor James Moeser. “His legacy will be one of caring and joy, of hard work and enthusiasm for life. Susan and I join his friends, classmates, teammates and instructors, people across the campus and far beyond Chapel Hill in wishing his family comfort during this time of profound loss.”

“My heart goes out to Jason’s family,” said Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams. “He was an engaging young man and a friend to a number of our players and managers. They tell me he was a wonderful person. Obviously our team is disappointed with the outcome of Sunday’s game, but that pales greatly in comparison with the loss the Ray family is dealing with today. We ask everyone to remember Jason and his family in their prayers.”

Concord First Assembly is located at 150 Warren C. Coleman Boulevard in Concord. The phone number is (704) 793-4740.