Minister Usher “Urkie” Raymond III, 52, of Chattanooga, died on Friday, Jan. 18, 2008, in an Atlanta hospital.
He was a 1973 graduate of Howard High School, where he was the captain of the Hustlin’ Tigers basketball team. He attended Motlow State Community College. He was a member of Greater Friendship Primitive Baptist Church. He was an instructor for the Overcomers Organization.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Milton Berry; father, Usher Raymond Jr.; and sister, Connie Raymond.
He is survived by his son, Usher (Tameka) Raymond IV, of Atlanta; daughters, Tomika Johnson, of Chattanooga, Ursula Parson, of Dallas, Texas, Ushyra Raymond, of Oklahoma City, Ok., and Shelley (Kevin) Lusk, of Red Oak, Tx.; mother, Evangelist Ernestine Carter, of Chattanooga; grandmother, Etta R. Berry, of Chattanooga; grandchildren, Thomas Atkins Jr., of Chattanooga, Usher Raymond V, of Atlanta, Undre Brown, Sharayah Reed, Joshua and Jasmine Simmons, all of Red Oak, Tx.; brothers, Duane (Sandy) Raymond, Dorian (Carol) Raymond, both of San Diego, Ca., Eric Perkins, of Atlanta, and Fred (Patricia) Roddy, of Chattanooga; sisters, Wava R. Brooks, Linda Raymond, Raynor Davis, Rena Oden, all of Chattanooga, Blondell Roddy, of Los Angeles, Ca., and Alice Conerly, of San Diego, Ca.; uncle, Charles (Erica) Berry, of Tacoma, Wa.; aunts, Willene Simmons, of Chattanooga, Lela Ramey, of Monroe, Ga., Betty Martin and Beulah Martin, both of Chattanooga; several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives; dear friends, Deloris Frizzell, of Marietta, Ga., Cheryl Raymond, of Dallas, Tx.; and many other friends.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Taylor Funeral Home with Elder James Penny officiating. Burial will be in Highland Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home.