Louise Orahood Ray, 54, teacher, ‘Chief Ray of Sunshine’ at Lovett

When Louise Ray’s third-graders studied Native American culture, they took on Indian names to reflect their personalities. So did she.

“Chief Ray of Sunshine” represented her nurturing spirit and the way she lived and inspired others, even in dark times.

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Louise Orahood Ray, who graduated from the Lovett School in 1972, always looked at things with the sense that ‘the glass was half full,’ her sister said.

When students at the Lovett School learned that Mrs. Ray had cancer, they sold arm bracelets to raise money for research. The words “Ray of Sunshine” were emblazoned on the yellow bracelets.

“My sister has had students who are now grown people in college come by her classroom and tell her she was the turning point for them to love school instead of dread it,” said Jane Orahood of Atlanta.

“She always looked at things with hope, grace, beauty and a sense that the glass was half full.”

Louise Orahood Ray, 54, of Atlanta died Friday of ovarian cancer at her home.

The memorial service will be 2 p.m. Monday at Peachtree Christian Church. R.T. Patterson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

A 1972 graduate of the Lovett School, Mrs. Ray earned two degrees — a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Georgia State University and a master’s in early childhood education from Oglethorpe University.

She’s taught the past decade at Lovett, where she received the Woodward Award for Excellence in Teaching.

As a volunteer, Mrs. Ray logged countless hours for the Atlanta Junior League, the Center for Puppetry Arts and Egleston’s Children Health Care System, now part of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She was a leader for Girl Scout Troop 5788, and taught Sunday school at Peachtree Christian Church.

To honor her, her children have established an Atlanta-based nonprofit.

The Ray of Sunshine Foundation will benefit youngsters, particularly in the education field. The foundation, said her son, Jimmy Davis Jr. of Atlanta, is an ideal way to ensure the legacy of a woman whose password for almost everything was “hope.”

“Mother had this inner light that touched everybody around her,” he said.

“Our hope and dream is that she will continue to live on through the community, even though she isn’t here physically anymore.”

Additional survivors include a daughter, Ellen Louise Ray; her parents, Carolyn and Emory Orahood; two sisters, Ellen Ballard and Carolyn Weaver,; and a grandson, all of Atlanta.