Willie Ray Suber

Willie Ray Suber passed away on April 4, 2026.  He was born in Denmott, Arkansas on May 9, 1942. His parents were the late Mr. Berry Jr. and Mrs. Verline Suber. Willie was the third child, with five siblings. Among his family and friends, he was known as “Ray”. Ray was active in the local choir group, ran track during high school, attended 16 Section Baptist Church, and worked in the timber mill with his father.

Upon completing high school, Ray went off to college at the University of Arkansas in Pine Bluff, which was about 70 miles away. He and his buddies became hitch-hikers on the weekend going back to Selma, his hometown.  These young men brought a sense of pride to their community.  Neighbors would give them bags of fruit and groceries to take back to school with them.  Willie always had an eye for the better opportunities in life.  During the summer of the “riots”, he worked in Chicago driving a city bus for the CTA. During the latter part of his college career, he married Ms. Geneva Jarrett and they moved to Jackson, Michigan where they were teachers in the Jackson Public Schools. 

In 1974, Ray and Geneva moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan.  There, they had their son, Donald Ray Jr. and a daughter, Courtney Elizabeth.  Willie joined the staff of the Michigan Education Association and retired after over 30 years.  He became an Executive Director (Uniserv) for the Grand Rapids Public Schools and an Organizer for West Michigan. His work ethics were stellar.  Ray’s most important responsibility was to negotiate contracts for membership.  To this day, his skills at the bargaining table left a real sense of economic prosperity.  Ray promoted diversity, equality, and inclusion.  He was also president of the NAACP chapter.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mrs. Geneva Suber and his brother, Mr. Levi Suber.

He will be lovingly remembered by his son, Mr. Donald Ray and Lindsay Suber, along with their children, Kyndal-Rai Elizabeth and Donald Ray Jr.; daughter, Ms. Courtney Elizabeth Suber, along with her children, Isaiah Morris, Sanaa Morris, and Sarai Morris, Tyee Parker, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; his siblings, Luvertha Butler of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Glorise Peterson of Jackson, Michigan, Minnie and Albert Peterson of Frankfort, Kentucky; sister-in-law, Helen Suber of Selma, Arkansas; a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, neighbors, and friends.

According to Ray’s wishes, cremation has taken place.