Moore's Ford Memorial Committee co-founder passes

Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 8:21 AM

Subject: Ray Durham memorial service this Sat, Nov. 17, 2 p.m

MFMC Founder Ray Durham Dies of Parkinsons

Dear folks,

Two days ago, our Moores Ford family took a big loss. Founding MFMC member LaRamon Durham died of Parkinson's Disease last Sunday, Nov. 11 at St. Mary's Hospice Center in Athens.

A memorial service in Ray's honor will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 17 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Athens. As you well know, he had been sick for a long, long time. Phyllis Durham, his wife, has asked us to say a few words on Saturday. Ray loved our Moores Ford family and was loved in return.

Directions: from Hwy 78 (also called the Atlanta Highway), turn south at the light on Timothy Road (Golden Pantry in the south corner (this intersection is east of the Georgia Mall and about 3-5 miles west of downtown Athens). Head south on Timothy maybe 1-2 miles to the U/U Fellowship on the left, an irregularly shaped modernistic, U-U looking building at 780 Timothy Road, Athens. 706-546-7904.

If you get lost, call my cell at 706-202-7802. I will leave it on until the service begins.

For those of you who cannot attend this service, also for those who wish to record some thoughts and stories about Ray for Phyllis and surviving family, why not add your remarks to this email? I will print off copies and deliver them on Saturday.

Will also email this message and Ray's obituary to our entire list serve this evening.

Here's a story from me:

In recent years, this civil rights worker, who has fought for a broad spectrum of human rights all his life, had focused on young people with a specific message.

On his own, he even called a few of our scholarship recipients by phone.

"Hey buddy," he would begin with that gravelly voice of his. Then came a few words about his life's work.

"I've been carrying this torch," he would continue. "My mind is still willing, but my body is slowing down. I can't carry this torch any longer.

"But I am calling you because I want you to pick it up...and carry it for me."

No doubt many of those young people probably looked at their phone receiver thinking, "What on earth is this all about?"

But I will wager, there were a few who, having just applied for Moores Ford scholarships, knew exactly what Ray was talking about.

"That old man just laid that torch on me."

Ask Waywond Mundy. He took one of Ray's calls.

Ask Bobby Howard. Mortician Dan Young laid that message on Bobby about the Moores Ford killings in the early sixties. As Paul Harvey would say, "Now we know the rest of the story."

Much love,

Rich