Memorial donations in tribute of Joan Allen Ray

"We are showered everyday with gifts, but they are not meant for us to keep … our work and our joy is to pass along the gift and to trust that what we put out into the universe will always come back." ~ Robin Wall Kimmerer

Greetings,

We are Kathy and Karla, daughters of Joan Allen Ray. Thank you for reading our story.

Our mother entered hospice care in early November, and by month's end, she passed away due to end-stage renal disease. It is our hope that her enduring spirit is strengthened every time we say her name with love and share memories with family and friends.

For more than 30 years, our mother served W.B. Powell Elementary School in Washington, D.C. as a 1st and 2nd grade teacher. During her tenure, she worked in the same classroom. Room 113 holds fond memories for us because of the time we spent with our mother, and her students, over the years. We can not think of a more meaningful way to honor her than to give back to the place where she shaped the lives of countless young students in the Petworth community.

In memory of our mother, and in lieu of flowers, we are requesting donations to support Powell Bilingual Elementary School. 100% of the proceeds will be allocated to the school so they can identify and provide needed resources, such as:

As her daughters, we are guided by our mother’s example and we value the importance of education. In her memory, we are committed to providing students with the resources and services they need to thrive and excel. Your generosity of spirit will support Powell Elementary scholars. Your kindness will honor the legacy of our beloved mother and the foundation she worked so hard to build for others.

With appreciation,

Kathy and Karla