Elijah “Sonny” Rayford was born on December 6, 1939 in Orville, Alabama to the late William
Rayford, Jr. and Catherine Rayford. Elijah was the seventh child out of twenty. He departed
this life on Wednesday, December 30, 2020.

Elijah took pride in taking care of his family and helping those in need. He married
Astie Lee Moore Rayford on May 11, 1967. He enjoyed his career working as the District
Supervisor for the City of Mobile, Alabama for thirty five years where he retired his father also.
Elijah loved to tell his grandchildren stories on the way he was brought up.

Elijah leaves to cherish his memories, his loving and devoted wife of fifty-three years, Astie
Rayford; his only son, Reginald Rayford, Sr.; his grandchildren: Reginald Bendolph, Sade
Bendolph, Raven Rayford and Reginald Rayford, Jr.; and six great grandchildren; his siblings:
Laura Biggs, Rachel Mitchell, Mary Hatcher, Gloria Bell, Minnie Blackman, Brenda Rayford,
Geraldine Barren, Levi Rayford, Ronald Rayford, William Rayford, Emanuel Rayford,
Willie Rayford, Julia Vasser, Catherine Mitchell, Herman Rayford, Bernest Rayford, Henry Rayford,
Ardell Holmes and Dezarine Lowe; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and
friends; his best friend, Joe Louis.