Ray Wallace’s Legacy Lives On

The late Raymond Wallace’s friends, cousins and siblings grilled hot dogs and burger patties at Jocelyn Square Park Sunday afternoon to honor his memory.

The corner of the park was recently named after the late Ray Wallace. 

Relatives of Wallace, who came from New Jersey and Pennsylvania, recalled Wallace holding many events for the city’s youth, from talent shows to free barbers and braiders to basketball tournaments.

Mary Beverly, Wallace’s first cousin who hails from New Jersey, recalled Wallace teaching kids life skills, including how to tie a tie. This was part of the work his nonprofit Guns Down, Books Up sought to achieve. 

Beverly added that Wallace, his sister Hope Howard, and mother Margaret Brooks made homecooked meals monthly for the seniors at Bella Vista on Eastern Street. Meals included Thanksgiving feasts, complete with turkey, mashed potatoes and Christmas meals as well.

Beverly said that her cousin had a rough start to life, including a prison sentence. He wanted to turn his life around and help the youth avoid making the same mistakes he did. 

“The kids loved him,” Beverly said. ​“His legacy will go on for years.”

Howard continues to stage community events through the Guns Down, Books Up nonprofit. The nonprofit attended the Freddy Fixer Parade in June and donated ​“two truckloads” of books to the city’s youth. 

Wallace’s legacy also continues in small ways. Regarding the food served at the celebration, Beverly said anyone in the park is welcome to have some, mentioning a homeless man who had asked for food that afternoon.

“Our family is built on helping others,” she said.

Mike Kornegay, a friend who worked at Guns Down, Books Up with Wallace, was socializing and enjoying the live DJ.

“He [Wallace] was a stand-up guy,” he said. ​“He was always happy and smiling,”

Kornegay recalled Wallace being a loyal friend. Kornegay said he would call Wallace for favors such as power washing his house, which Wallace was eager to do, and refused payment when his friend offered.

That loyalty is why Kornegay did not hesitate to agree when Wallace asked him to help him out at his nonprofit. Kornegay stated that together, him and Wallace helped young boys become men, teaching them interview skills such as strong eye contact and firm handshakes. 

“He was even teaching me,” Kornegay chuckled. 

Many of those boys are now off the streets, working at Walmart, McDonald’s, and one having his own lawn-mowing business.