Birth Date: 12/23/1923
Deceased Date: 01/30/2021
PRINCETON – Raymond Massey Sugg, age 97, died Saturday, January 30, 2021 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born December 23, 1923 in Johnston County to the late William Perry and Emma Louise Massey Sugg and was preceded in death by the mother of his children Betsy Hellen Sugg and his second wife Ginny Rains Sugg; brother Bill Joe Sugg and sisters Annie Louise Woodard and Frankie Sugg Heyward.
While attending Oak Ridge Academy, Raymond entered the US Army and served during WWII from June 1943-November 1945 with distinction with 2nd Battalion 15th Infantry 3rd Infantry Division earning a Silver Star, 2 Purple Hearts, and 5 Bronze stars. During the Battle of Anzio, he was briefly captured and escaped in route to the enemy’s camp. His experiences in the war, and especially the time at Anzio, impacted him such that he documented the experience in a published WWII Book of memories. He served his country with valor and patriotic pride and in his later years he freely shared his stories with his family, community, and school groups. After returning home, he briefly attended UNC at Chapel Hill before transferring to Atlantic Christian College (now Barton) to play baseball and basketball. After graduating with a teaching degree, Raymond taught a short time at Belle School in Chatham County before returning to Princeton where he taught at Princeton High School and coached baseball, and girls and boys basketball from 1951 – 1959. During the summers (post-war to mid-1950s), he played minor league baseball for various NC teams in the Coastal Plain League, Carolina League, Virginia League, and North Carolina State League. He left teaching to pursue a career with the US Postal Service as a Rural Mail Carrier for Route 1 Princeton where he delivered mail and good cheer to the people around Princeton for 30 years.
Raymond was instrumental in starting The Princeton Little League where a field is named in his family’s honor. He was a longtime member of Princeton United Methodist Church, the Princeton Lions Club, and the St. Patrick’s Masonic Lodge. A few of the highlighted honors that Raymond received includes The Order of The Long Leaf Pine, Athletic Hall of Fame for Princeton High School and Johnston County, and the new Princeton High Basketball court named in his honor.
Throughout his life, Raymond never shied from generously and unconditionally sharing his smile and good cheer to anyone whom crossed his path and had a unique gift in making others feel special for who they were. He never ever met a stranger and those whom he encountered often left feeling like old friends. Raymond’s love of sports followed him throughout his life, whether baseball, golf, UNC sports, or especially any team from Princeton. His pride for his hometown of Princeton was immense and he would let anyone know it. And for his family, Raymond was a loving and wonderful husband, brother, uncle, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
Surviving are his sons, Ray Sugg, Jr. (Amy) of Bonlee, Perry Sugg (Renee) of Durham, and Mickey Sugg (Debbie) of Wilmington; daughters, Rebecca Sugg of Princeton, Nancy Pearson (Danny) of Wilmington, Terry Hodgin of Pilot Mountain, Laura Daughtry (Don) of Princeton, and Ginger Young (Donny) of Hermosa Beach, CA; grandchildren, Betsy McClelland, Mary McClelland, Blair McClelland, Ramy Sugg, Erin Davis (Lee), Raymond Pearson, Andrew Hodgin (Anna), Stephanie D. King, Ryan Daughtry (Amanda), Maya Sugg, Jessica Wilson (Trey), and Patrick Sugg; great-grandchildren, Braxton King, Brooklyn Daughtry, and Ryker Hodgin; step-children, Bill Rains (Edwina) of Gibsonsville, David Rains (Judy) of Princeton, and Beth Jones (Donnie) of Newport; step-grandchildren, Chris Rains (Libby) and children Claire and Cooper, Neil Rains and his daughter Kaitlyn, Jill Horne (Watson) and children Ethan and Emma, Rebecca Jones (Cameron Mitchell) and their son Will, Jennifer Jones (Janis Putelis) and children Aina and Mabel; sister, Nancy Sugg Smith of Wilmington; many beloved nieces and nephews; personal caregivers, Kathy Barnes, Wanda Swaney and Treva Allen; and Sheree Justus, Carol Warren, Ashley Suggs, Ramon Mizell and Allen Strickland of Community Hospice.
Mr. Sugg will lie in state at the Parrish Funeral Home on Monday, February 22, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. at which time a formal visitation begins, until 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Parrish Funeral Home with the Rev. Neal Brantley and the Rev. Dennis Pollock officiating. Burial will follow in the Princeton Cemetery.
In light of current COVID-19 concerns, the family respectfully requests that you honor social distancing and mask/safety policies during the service and visitation.
Flowers are acceptable or memorials may be made to Princeton United Methodist Church, PO Box 116, Princeton NC 27569, Princeton High School Bulldog Booster Club, PO Box 254, Princeton NC 27569, Community Hospice or a Veterans organization of your choice.
Online condolences may be made to the family at parrishfh.com.
