Raymond Thomas Shadrick

Raymond Thomas Shadrick of Reidsville, NC, went to his Eternal Home on Saturday, October 26, 2024.He was born November 8, 1929, in Forsyth County, NC, to the late Gaither Anderson Shadrick and Mary Ivey Callahan Shadrick.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister Frances Louise Foster; brothers James Shadrick and Ernest Shadrick; and two sons, Stephen Ray Shadrick and David Michael Shadrick.

Ray is survived by his wife, Julie Landreth Shadrick, of the home; children Danny Shadrick (Amanda) of Greensboro; Anita Kirkman (Paul) of Pleasant Garden; Karen Kiszely (Scott) of Pleasant Garden; Danny Strickland (Bonnie) of Julian; James Strickland (Teresa) of Greensboro; and daughter-in-love Jennifer Shadrick of Greensboro; two sisters: Nancy Nifong of Winston-Salem and Shelby Sloan of Mocksville; sisters-in-love, Kay Shadrick of Fowlerville, Michigan. Janice England and Yvonne Landreth both of Greensboro and Kay Landreth of Georgia. Also surviving are grandchildren Steve Shadrick, Sonjia Shadrick Watkins, Jeremy Shadrick, Carolyn Shadrick, Kimberly Shadrick, David Kirkman (Stacy), Casey Kirkman, Lelia Kirkman Duke (Justin), David Shadrick (Jennifer), Kristin Shadrick Ipock (Turner), Nora Strickland, Thomas Strickland, Robert Strickland, Jamie Strickland and Ashley Strickland, as well as 25 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren, and many much-loved nieces and nephews. There was a special place in his heart for his little "black eyes", great grandchildren, Danni and Daymian Gomes.

Ray retired from working in 2000 after beginning work in his early teenage years. Many times, he would share some of his life stories about working as a bellhop, at the approximate age of 15 or 16, at the old Robert E. Lee Hotel in downtown Winston-Salem. He talked about meeting Doris Day & Bob Hope. Oh, the memories he had. But his life work was sheet metal. He had it in his blood! He worked his way up through the years and retired as the Field Superintendent for PI Mechanical, a family-owned HVAC company in Greensboro. The family and other staff there held his greatest admiration and respect.

Ray considered himself to be extremely blessed. Every day was a beautiful day! He loved his family, he loved hunting, but he LIVED to fish. If he had a day off, he was on the water somewhere. He was a member of Lunker Bassmasters of Greensboro; a member of the Guilford Wildlife Club at Lake Jeanette; and a regular "inhabitant" of Lake Jeanette, Lake Townsend, Lake Brandt, Buggs Island or Lake Gaston in Virginia, or any body of water in the area. He sometimes fished by himself but most of the time he had a hitchhiker, his wife, one of his kids, a friend from work, and later on one of the grandkids. It was the same with hunting. Whoever wanted to hunt did! He really enjoyed surf fishing and in the 1950's began regular trips to Emerald Isle, NC. For several years he would take his mother and other family members once or twice a year to fish and, fish! But in later years he enjoyed watching his kids and grandkids learn to surf fish. His last trip was in October 2023.

He loved life and he loved Jesus! He started attending church services at New Bessemer Baptist Church in May of 2023 and with his wife, joined that church in December of 2023. He loved the church, he loved the "family" there, but most of all, he loved the Pastor there, James "Bud" Parrish.

Ray will be missed by so many, but we know where he is. To him we say, "Love ya, Bye!" But it is not goodbye. It is "See ya later"! We love you to the sky and back, to the moon and back, to the beach and back and, to Heaven...!!

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to New Bessemer Baptist Church, 4115 Hines Chapel Rd., McLeansville, NC 27301 or your favorite charity.

Hanes-Lineberry Sedgefield is honored to serve the Shadrick Family.