Life Epitome
“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event
under heaven~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 paraphrased

     On March 14, 1951, Raymond Young, Jr. was the oldest sibling born to Raymond and
Willie Mae Young in Galveston, Texas. He grew up in Dickinson, Texas, with three
brothers and one sister.

     Raymond was baptized at an early age under the leadership of Pastor M. I. Lewis at
Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Dickinson, TX. During his formative years being the oldest he
took great pride in caring for his younger siblings. Raymond had a love for baseball,
football, and tennis. In his pre-teen and teen years, he played baseball under his
father’s coaching and later played with his high school. However, football was his first
love as he became the starting quarterback for Dickinson High School in his senior year.
Raymond received his education in the Dickinson Independent School District where he
attended grades one through nine at Paul Lawrence Dunbar, and the remaining grades
at Dickinson High School. He received his high school diploma in 1969 at Dickinson
High School. He furthered his education at Sam Houston State University on a football
scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Teaching.

     Early in life Raymond was taught the importance of work ethics and moral values. In his
teens and college years he worked with his dad and Uncle Slim pouring concrete during
the summer months while on break from school and college. After college graduation
he was employed by the Galveston ISD for three years and later worked thirty-five years
as a high school history teacher and tennis coach with the Lamar Consolidated School
District. It was during these years that Raymond became an avid tennis instructor and
player. He retired from teaching in 2004.

     Raymond’s legacy will be remembered as one with a “beautiful mind”, who had a great
love for history and the Bible. After retirement he actively shared the Gospel to anyone
who would listen and was known as the “walking evangelist.” His favorite book of the
Bible was Romans.

     On February 21, 2026, the Lord called and Raymond answered. He breathed his life so
sweetly away.

     Preceding him in death were his beloved parents, Raymond and Willie Mae Young, a
brother Ray Anthony Young, and two half-siblings, Henry James Young and
Mary Thomas.

     He leaves to cherish a devoted sister, Ivy Wingard, (Houston, TX) ;
two brothers, Rev Willie Young and wife Gaynelle, (Atlanta, GA),
Timothy Young and his wife Jenel, (Pearland, TX); and the last living uncle,
Jerry Lee Woodson, (Nacogdoches, TX), a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and
family, a devoted cousin, Pat Garrett (Rosenberg, TX).