Serena Ray

Serena Rachon Hudson, daughter of Laura Rice and Sam Hudson was born on February 15, 1975 in Denver Colorado. At an early age she professed her faith in Jesus Christ and joined Arnold Tabernacle CME where she was the CYF Division President, representing the church during state conferences in 1989. She was on the Usher board and sang in the Preteen Choir as lead under her mom as the director. Serena attended Kensett High School and was a member of FHA where she was district president and received awards for speaking. She was a member of the band where she held the title of 1st chair through high school. She received tons of awards for her trumpet skills and was awarded a full marching band scholarship from the University of Arkansas, in Fayetteville. She loved marching and playing during the Razorback games and she would send for her sister and her friend to watch on the weekends.

While attending the University of Arkansas, she met Darrell Ray and they were joined in holy matrimony on September 23, 1995. From this union, they shared a daughter and soon, had three sons. While attending school to become a Social Worker her passion shifted to becoming a Medical Assistant and she worked as a phlebotomy technician until moving to Denver, CO. At that time, she focused on her family as a homemaker.

Be it her cooking or sewing, she always poured her heart and soul into everything she’d done. Serena was an avid reader and writer. She used this ability to bless the world with insight into her life through her personal blogs on Facebook. She wrote with such passion and eloquence and really had a way of bringing everyone, near and far, together to hear the stories of her life. She was an excellent seamstress. She’d make beautiful custom blankets for family and friends alike. Serena was a lifelong learner who took pride in learning new things daily. Anything that she set her mind to she accomplished. She was a self-taught chef (She could effortlessly make a plethora of different, notably baked, dishes ranging from candy bars, to cobblers). She became a cosmetologist in her own sort of way (learning to do her hair, makeup, and nails professionally) without a mentor or guide. She was an extraordinary singer, using what she learned during her time in choir to fill the hearts of those around her with beautiful words woven with her voice. Many of these songs will stick with her family forever as they remember her through time.

To know Serena was to truly love her. With her presence, no one ever experienced a dull moment. She was loud and blunt, but definitely the life of the party. You’d often hear her say “You know me, I’m going to tell it like it is.” But the thing about Serena is that she always came from a place of love.

Serena’s love shined brighter than any of her other traits. She loved hard and deep. She loved in ways that everyone needed.  It seems as if she strategically personalized herself, to be able to cater to everyone that she met. She was a cheerleader, just as much as she was a disciplinarian; she would advocate for you, just as much as she would scold you of your wrong doings. She was a provider, protector, friend, companion and most importantly, a guide of life for so many.

Serena joined her mother, Laura Steel, father, Samuel Hudson, and sister Sandra Crosby on January 13, 2022. Her transition from this world, though it occurred peacefully and without struggle, is felt with such heaviness. The world of those who knew her presence has shifted, but the memories of what we know as Serena will continue to live.

Serena leaves to cherish her memory her husband, Darrell Ray, three sons, Xavier Ray, Tyler Ray, and Collin Ray, step daughter, Amber Ray, grandson, Aiden Ojeda, father, Louis Steel, sister, Stacy Wilborn, brother in law, Henry Wilborn, brother, Sylvester Steel, and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and friends.