L. Stephanie Ray

Stephanie was born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan. Community outreach has been embedded in her soul since she was a child. She attended private schools and was very shy growing up as a child until her high school years. She was continuously involved in various community-oriented programs. She and five other students started a gospel group and participated in the St. Mary's Cathedral Prison Ministry by performing for the inmates. She also joined the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority's little sister chapter known as "Delta Sprites" and volunteered in their hospital ministry. Throughout high school, she honed her leadership skills holding positions, such as class representative, class treasurer, class secretary, and in her senior year, voted Student Council President. She was also nominated and inducted into Who's Who Among American High School Students. After graduating high school, she attended Delta Community College in University Center, Michigan, where she received her Associates Degree in Business and Office Administration. Soon thereafter, she relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, and continued her studies at Georgia State University and Clayton College State University where she majored in Business Administration and Emergency Medical studies, respectively. As an adult, she continued giving back to her community by volunteering in the Giver of Life Ministry at her church that was geared toward empowering youth educationally, spiritually and mentally. She also worked with the "Feed The Hungry" Ministry with her late beloved son, Xavier. In 2003, she decided to take her outreach ministry to a higher level and became a foster parent for over 50 children. She describes it as one of the most fulfilling and rewarding experiences of her life. After experiencing a series of tragic events in her life, including the death of her sons, she pulled herself back up by the grace of God and moved into the next phase of her life. Then, she began to counsel and mentor other women through their grief. Today, she strives to utilize her God-given creative and artistic talents to portray positive characters through acting and writing that will motivate and inspire others to become strong leaders compassionate adults to their fellow man. She dedicates her endeavors to the loving memory of her beloved sons and those who have paved the way before her.