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Incident
Sergeant Ronald Ray suffered a fatal heart attack while working a DUI checkpoint near the intersection of Riverdale Road and Stateline Road in Memphis.
He began to feel ill and was treated at the scene by paramedics. He was transported to Methodist Germantown Hospital where he passed away three days later.
Sergeant Ray had served with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office for 37 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
37 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Ray gave the Shelby County Sheriff's Office 37 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Memphis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Ray.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Cardiac
Shelby County Sheriff's Office has lost 21 officers; 1 of them lost to cardiac events.
Ronald is one of 37 officers lost to cardiac events in TN, 4.8% of the 769 remembered there.
Ronald is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Ronald is one of 1,309 officers lost to cardiac events worldwide, 3.9% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2013, 1 officer in TN was lost to cardiac events, the 9th heaviest of 26 years on record. The heaviest was 1999, with 4.
In 2013, 14 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 40th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
In 2013, 14 officers worldwide were lost to cardiac events, the 40th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
Who
Ronald was 61. Of the 36 lost to cardiac events in TN whose age is recorded, half were between 41.8 and 54.3; the middle age was 49. Ronald had served 37 years; the middle length of service was 15.5 years.
Ronald was 61. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. Ronald had served 37 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Ronald was 61. Of the 1,251 lost to cardiac events worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 42.5 and 55; the middle age was 48. Ronald had served 37 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
When
December holds 8.1% of these deaths in TN; March holds the most, 13.5%. Tuesdays: 10.8%.
December holds 8.5% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Tuesdays: 13.9%.
December holds 8.5% of these deaths worldwide; January holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 13.9%.
How
Cardiac deaths account for 4.8% of all 21 deaths at Shelby County Sheriff's Office, the 3rd most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 4.8% of all 769 deaths in TN, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 3.9% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 4th most common cause.
His people
Shelby County Sheriff's Office has 21 officers remembered here, Ronald among them.
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Houston Mitchell Jul 11, 1904
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Thomas J. McDermott Jul 12, 1904
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W. H. Lucy
Feb 25, 1910
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James C. Nelson Oct 29, 1917
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George Taylor Reeves
Nov 30, 1920
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Fielding F. Applebury
Dec 17, 1920
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Charles C. Wortham
Oct 7, 1925
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Edward William Stelling
Jul 5, 1945
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Olney Benton Crawford
Mar 24, 1946
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Deadrick A. Taylor
Apr 19, 1996
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Sherry Hopper Goodman
Jul 26, 1996
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Rupert Holliday Peete, Jr.
Mar 8, 2000
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George Monroe Selby
Dec 4, 2002
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Timothy Howard Dunn
Oct 29, 2004
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Ronald L. Ray
Dec 17, 2013
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Jeremy Devaughn Smith
Apr 21, 2020
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Anthony Terrance Jackson, Sr.
Dec 25, 2020
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Willie Lois Dortch
Apr 9, 2021
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Ray William McCrary, Jr.
Jul 20, 2021
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Lakiesha Lashay Tucker
Aug 25, 2021
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Bridgette Lachelle Hunter
Feb 17, 2022
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 33-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
20 officers from Shelby County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
