Brother Raymond Bright Senior affectionately known as “Buddy” was born to the union of Jimmie Bright and Gussie Russell on September the fifteenth of nineteen thirty-eight in Lower Peach Tree, Alabama. He was the second born out of ten children. Raymond earned his high school diploma from Community Center High School in Lower Peach Tree, Alabama. He was one of two sons to the union of Jimmie and Gussie Bright. After graduating high school, Raymond moved to Mobile, Alabama where he met the love of his life Irene Williams. From this union God blessed the union with three children: two sons, Raymond Bright Jr., Rayford Bright, and a daughter, Michele Bright, also Eugene Burroughs from a previous relationship. After the union, they moved to Trinity Gardens, Alabama where they were received by the community as one of their own. Reverend (Julia) Irby were their mentor, confidante, and their babysitter. Raymond worked for a Baptist Book Store which strengthened his faith and his endurance during turbulent time. Raymond leaned on God for his strength, and his faith was unshakable. Later, he moved his family to Whistler, Alabama to be next to his parents Jimmie and Gussie Bright. Where he became the neighborhood father. He was the father to the fatherless, a mentor for the ones seeking God, and a confidante to the ones in the nursing homes. He left the Baptist Book Store to worked for Alabama Ship Yard in Mobile, Alabama. The final move was to Eight mile, Alabama where he purchased a house that was tied to a family home tragedy and turned it into a home of peace and tranquility. He left the Alabama Ship Yard in Mobile, Alabama to accept a job at Blount High School in Eight mile, Alabama, it became Bro. Raymond Bright dream job because it gave him the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the students.
Brother Raymond Bright transitioned from the physical life to the spiritual life. God called him home on June the fifth at two forty-five am. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jimmie and Gussie Bright and four sisters, Lillian Pharr, Lucy Railback, Bessie Briggs, and Ernestine Carter. He leaves to cherish his memories and celebrate his life, three sons: Eugene Burroughs, Raymond (Karen) Bright, Jr., Rayford (Naschenell) Bright of Mobile Alabama; a daughter, Michele Bright of Huntsville, Alabama; eight grand-children: Danielle Bright of Huntsville, Alabama, Raymond Bright, III of Atlanta, Georgia, Kiera Bright of Whistler, Alabama, Dominique Bell of Huntsville, Alabama, Jordan Bright of Mobile, Alabama, Job Lang, Jimiere (Melonee) Lang of Mississippi, Kierra Burroughs, and Demarius Burroughs of Mobile, Alabama; five great-grandchildren: Ryan Young and Mackenzie Bright of Huntsville, Alabama, Hermione Lang, Orlanous Lang, and Ka’lell Lang of Mississippi; four sisters: Elouise Bright and Mattie Bright of Arizona, Dorothy Mitchell and Nesidell Ward of Whistler, Alabama; one brother, Arthur (Janice) Bright; two aunts: Laura Mae Nobles of Mobile, Alabama, and Tina (James) Hudson of New York; one uncle, Winfred Carlton of Eight Mile, Alabama; and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Lord Showery was Brother Raymond Bright’s senior nephew that had a special bond with him like a father and son relationship. Also, Raynard Lee was a neighborhood kid that had a fatherly bond with Bro. Raymond Bright, Sr.