Raymond Arthur Ambridge

A wise band once said that Tuesday is gone with the wind. One of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s greatest fans, Raymond “Ray” Arthur Ambridge departed the earth Tuesday, February 22, 2021. Ray, a simple man, was born June 3, 1964 in Ephrata, Washington. He grew up in Cold Bay, Alaska, where he first experienced the joys of southern rock and learned a love for the outdoors and animals.
Ray lived his life for good music, the people he loved, and helping those in need. Throughout his life, one of his greatest loves was music which he expressed through playing guitar and listening to the music he loved with the people he loved.
After graduating high school in’82 Ray joined the Air Force following in his father’s three steps. He became a travelling man, splitting his career between Germany, and ultimately, settling down in Valdosta after being stationed at Moody Air Force Base. While stationed at Moody, Ray helped defend the nation when he deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Desert Storm.
During his time in the Air Force, Ray helped in creating the band, Die Laughing, with some of his fellow Airmen with their biggest performance happening on Earth Day ’91 at Valdosta State College where they performed for hundreds of students.
Upon the completion of an honorable tour of more than ten years, Ray attended college at Valdosta State University where he earned a degree in Psychology, along with a minor in sociology. Using his degree, he went on to work in the Department of Family and Child Services (DFACS) in Adel, helping and working with neglected and abused children finding better lives in foster homes.
Following his career in DFACS, Ray continued to fulfill his desire to help others by working at Diversified Resources in Tifton. His work there included helping mentally disabled adults’ function normally within their homes and the community.
But don’t misunderstand him, the high pressure and emotionally draining careers left him searching for something a little less mentally taxing, finally deciding upon becoming a stocker at Wal-Mart in Adel.
If you want to celebrate Ray’s life sip your favorite drink and blast Free Bird on the loudest system you can find because Ray is as free as a bird now.
Ray is survived by his wife Sherry Ambridge, of Adel; daughter Jessica Anderson (Cody), of Memphis, TN; daughter Savannah Ambridge, of Jasper, FL; son William Stripling (Rebecca), of Lake Park; son Christopher Stripling and Jo Conkin, of Hahira; son Steven Sean Stripling (Christine), of Zebulon, NC; four grandchildren, Caleb Stripling, Jacob Stripling, Avery Stripling, and Corran Stripling; brother, Brett Ambridge (Josie), of Anchorage, AK; and sister Debbie Buenafe (John), of California. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Morton Ambridge and Jessie Myrtle Anderson Ambridge, and a brother Bill Ambridge.
A funeral service will be held at 10 am on Saturday, February 27, 2021 in the chapel of the Martin McLane Funeral Home with Rev. Robert Dawson officiating. Burial will follow at New Life Baptist Church Cemetery in Adel, GA. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 9-10 am. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Martin McLane Funeral Home of Hahira.