Major Eric

Ray Page

Loving, caring, faithful, considerate, giving, humorous, and kind… These are just a few of the attributes that describe Ray as a husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin and friend.

Eric Ray Page, of Richmond departed this life July 3, 2026. He was born July 12, 1946, to the late Herman Claiborne Page and the late Bessie Althea Johnson Page, the tenth of twelve children born to the couple.

A product of Church Hill, Ray was baptized at an early age at Mt. Tabor Baptist Church by the late C. S. McCall, Pastor. He attended Richmond Public Schools and graduated from Armstrong High School, where the class of 1964 elected him their senior class president. Ray furthered his education by receiving a four year tennis scholarship to Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ray's talent in tennis was exceptional. In high school, he and his doubles partner, Alvin Brownlee, won awards, and in college, Ray and his doubles partner, Melvin Penn, won a CIAA Doubles Championship. He graduated in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Ray married his high school sweetheart, Carolyn Nelson, on July 18, 1970. Their union was blessed with a son, Eric Ray Page II, and created a family unit lasting 56 years.

Ray had a long career in the Air Force Reserve, stationed in Richmond and Fort Belvoir for most of it and attaining the rank of Major before his retirement. He was an EEO Specialist for the Army and Air National Guard. In the mid 1990's, Ray was a Substitute Teacher, mostly in elementary schools, for the Richmond Public School System. Some of his own great-nieces and nephews were able to experience "Mr. Page" in the classroom and never wanted him to leave.

In his spare time, Ray also remained involved in sports and continued to excel in tennis, becoming the first African-American man to teach lessons at Battery Park. Ray also took up bowling and took it seriously. He was in several bowling leagues and was a member of the Virginia Posse Bowling Club. He bowled in tournaments across the state and the country and has bowled three perfect 300 games, for which he was presented with three rings.

Ray's fraternal organization included Edward Jones Masonic Lodge #324 PHA, where he was a Worshipful Master and also a Shriner.

Ray's love for family was infectious, and he had close relationships with his family through fun gatherings, whether it was on shopping trips and travels with Carolyn, bowling leagues and trips with the family, card games with his brothers and with many memories made at family annual cookouts and holiday dinners. He even created a singing group of his son, Lil Ray, nieces and nephews called Stoop and the Group. Their signature song was from the Coca-Cola commercial "Coke Adds Life," and Stoop was always happy to present the Group at every family function.

In addition to his parents, Ray was also preceded in death by three brothers, Albert Claiborne, Wilbur Luther and Herman Nathaniel and three sisters, Andrea P. Coles, Esther Theresa and Nina P. Anderson.

Left to cherish his memory are his devoted wife, Carolyn N. Page; son, Eric Ray Page II; four brothers, Henry (Renae), George (Joann), Robert and Carl (Iris); sister, Bettie P. Alexander (Al); a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Remains rest at Scott's Funeral Home, 115 E. Brookland Park Blvd., where viewing will be held Tuesday, July 14, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 15 at Scotts Funeral Chapel, 116 E. Brookland Park Blvd. Interment Oakwood Cemetery.