Ms. Lucille Flack Ray: ‘Life is a challenge, so face it!’

Ms. Lucille Flack Ray

by Jane Shuput

Ms. Lucille Flack Ray is a visionary. Just speaking with her is an electric experience; one can’t help but feel that the world is wide open for any and every possibility.

Perhaps this is true in part because of Ms. Ray’s story. She has led an abundant life and has a radiant personality. “I’ve never been afraid to speak out,” she says, and her fearless attitude is visible in the very spark of her eyes.



Ms.
Ray was born in Asheville in 1924 and can still point out her childhood
home with pride. She reminisces thoughtfully on the evolution of
Asheville over the years and has memories of Stephens Lee High School
and the Block before Asheville was desegregated. She is quick to point
out injustice, active in sorting it out, and always remains
compassionate.


Coaxing Ms. Ray
to talk about her accomplishments is a difficult job. However, piecing
together her story is rewarding. An activist, a poet, a teacher, a
mother, a speaker, and so much more, Ms. Ray exemplifies a thoughtful
civic woman who has been intentional in all of her life’s choices.


Ms. Ray is
always giving to the community in any way that she can. Over the years
she has volunteered at the local church and high school, helped to
oversee the education of her children and grandchildren, and spoken at
countless events. She is also a lovely and enthusiastic singer and has
shared her talent with the community for more than fifty years. Most
recently, Ms. Ray spoke and recited one of her poems at the “Walk For
Life” event, a meeting celebrating cancer survivors. She is a two time
survivor and stresses that one must remain happy and grateful for that
all life has given when facing such challenges.


Some of Ms.
Ray’s fondest memories are from the fifteen years she spent serving in
early childhood education. “Children will teach you!” she says. But it
is clear that the extra energy and time that Ms. Ray put into teaching
her students made all of the difference. She made a practice of having
a “graduation” for all of her students-cap & gown and diploma
included-and always told them “Don’t you let this be the last one!” A
good number of the children would return to her years down the road to
show her their high school diplomas.


Ms. Ray’s latest
project is a recorded Compact Disc (CD) of her poetry. It should be
completed in the next few weeks, and a book will follow thereafter. Of
course, she intends to use all proceeds to help the community. In
particular, she would love to see the church receive new hymn books.


“Life is a challenge-so face it!” says Ms. Ray. “If you know who you are, and whose you are, you can make it.”