Murfreesboro Post
MURFREESBORO WEATHER

Community remembers rich legacy left by shooting victim




Kendall Davis lights his candle from the candle belonging to Ophia McCray during a vigil Sunday for Terrell “Tee” Edward Ray. The vigil was held at Oaklands Park to honor the legacy of the man who died in a shooting on Aug. 2.JASON M. REYNOLDS

Kendall Davis lights his candle from the candle belonging to Ophia McCray during a vigil Sunday for Terrell “Tee” Edward Ray. The vigil was held at Oaklands Park to honor the legacy of the man who died in a shooting on Aug. 2.JASON M. REYNOLDS

Family, friends, church members and others filled a pavilion at Oaklands Park Sunday to honor the legacy left behind by Terrell “Tee” Edward Ray, 30, of Antioch, who died in a shooting on Aug. 2.

The Murfreesboro Police Department is searching for the suspect or suspects in the mysterious shooting that happened in the early morning hours at the Villager Condos on Middle Tennessee Boulevard, where Ray was on his way to visit a friend. The suspect allegedly fled in Ray’s vehicle after the shooting, but it was later recovered, police said.

Many wore memorial shirts at the vigil, bearing a picture of Ray, saying “R.I.P. Terrell” and “justice4tee” along with his birth date and the date he died. Furthermore, the shirts’ wording asks people to call MPD Det. Julie Cox at 629-201-5514 if they have any information.

Vigil speakers included family friends, Ray’s siblings, church members and more.

Legacy lives on

Kerry Marable, who ran the sound system and sang, spoke of Ray’s legacy and the significance of having so many people attend. “Death didn’t win,” he said.

Trina Anderson talks about her son Terrell

Trina Anderson talks about her son Terrell “Tee” Edward Ray’s legacy during a vigil in 2019. JASON M. REYNOLDS

Ray’s pastor, the Rev. Adric Lane of Greater Revelations Missionary Baptist Church, said his congregant was a good man with no criminal record. He personally baptized Ray in 1998.

Ray’s mother, Trina Anderson, said, “His life was taken from me and from those who loved him dearly. Nights are when I think about him the most.”

The person or people who shot Ray “lashed out” because that’s what they have learned in life, she said.

“That’s not what God created. They didn’t learn how to turn the other cheek. Was it worth taking my baby’s life? I miss him so much it hurts. I don’t know what happened that night, but God does.”

And Anderson called for justice. She said she is not sure she can forgive the shooter or shooters, but she is praying for them to find God.

Retired pastor James Thomas spoke of how God can redeem anyone.

A mother’s remembrance

Trina Anderson spoke to the Murfreesboro Post about her son’s legacy.

The shooting happed on Ray’s birthday; he was returning from a celebration, she said.

She said she did not want to give anyone the impression her son was an angel, but then again, he was a good man who worked hard, took care of his 10-year-old daughter of whom he had custody, and spent a lot of time at church.

“He was a fun person, he was a happy-go-lucky person,” she said. “He made everybody laugh. He was a good person. He was a good father. He spent a lot of time with his daughter. His whole life was her.”

Anderson said she has been re-watching videos of her son and his daughter to make it through her grief.

Her son was a man of faith as well, she said. He believed in God and worked on the sound system at church. He sang as well.

Anderson, a former military servicemember, said she has lived in Middle Tennessee since 1986. For much of that time, only she and her son lived in the area, until other relatives moved here. Their church has become part of their family.

Ray’s death, returning from his birthday celebration, was senseless, she said. If the shooter wanted the car, he likely would have given it to him.

“But we don’t know what it was about,” Anderson said. “The police keep me posted as much as they can. I appreciate them. I’m sure that it’s going to come to light. I’m sure that it will. He was a child of God, and God won’t let that just sit.”

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