Brenda Ellen Ray, 73, passed away on Wednesday, September 30, 2020. She was born in Brooklyn, NY to the late Garland and Ruth Newell Rogers. Besides her parents, she was also predeceased by her husband, Thomas A. Ray (The original animator of the Tom and Jerry cartoons). Brenda was involved in social activism in New York in the 60’s and 70’s remaining continually active in Politics. She was a member of the Writer’s Guild and the owner and operator of Tomstone’s Animation and Art Gallery, and Tomstone’s Restaurant with her late husband. Brenda was also an accomplished saleswoman, where she was a top salesperson 3 years in a row at Albertson Oldsmobile and earned her vehicle by exceptional sales with Mary Kay Cosmetics. She loved life, dancing and most importantly, her son.
Left to cherish her memory is her only son, Ariel M. Martin. “I will never know why God put me with my mother, bless me with my mother, but he did for some reason. He allowed her to be strong enough, intelligent enough and stubborn enough to raise a boy like me to become a man. True, there might have been people they came in and out of her life that were Men... but once she married they were really insignificant; that's why my heart is broken. All I've known in the manifestation of unconditional love which was my mom Brenda Ray. She was classy she was proud, she loved and she lived.”
In addition to her son, she leaves behind two brothers, Dennis Rogers , Leonard Rogers; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members and dear friends.
A memorial service to celebrate her life will be live webcast via www.grahamfuneralhome.com on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 at 5pm. Please take the time to sign the digital guest book and share a memory or story of Brenda.