Jeri Raiford

Jeraline “Jeri” (Kennedy) Raiford, 87, passed away at her home in Houston, Texas on New Year’s Day, 2024.  She was born on May 20, 1936 in Farmerville, Louisiana to Jack Bill Kennedy and Oma Etta (Rugg) Kennedy.

Jeri met her future husband, Willard, at church one Sunday after the sermon.  They went on a hayride together that the church was sponsoring that night.  Thus began a courtship that culminated in marriage for time and all eternity in the St. George Temple on July 8, 1952.  Willard and Jeri were together for 63 years until Willard’s passing in 2015.

Jeri was best known for her tremendous love and kindness that she showed everyone.  She was a dedicated and faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) for her entire 87 years and a member of the Melbourne Ward for 71 years.  Jeri and her husband also served an 18-month Service Mission for the Church.

We will never know the ripples of good that spread out from her, how far out into the world they traveled, nor how many lives she has blessed during her sojourn on earth.  We invite you to share how Jeri has touched or blessed your life in some way in the Tributes section below.  Your stories and memories will be priceless to us!

Jeri is survived by her loving children, Willard Eugene Raiford, Jr & fiancée Josie, Belinda Gale Hartschuh & husband Jim, Kenneth Dale Raiford & wife Lyndia, Michael David Raiford & wife Annette, and Oma Ruth Nunamaker & husband Tom; her brother, Jack Edwin Kennedy; 18 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. Her grandchildren are Blakeley, Trisha, Graham, Nate, Braden, Gregory, Wendy, Michael, Benjamin, Stacey, Devon, Lacy, Jared, Hunter, Heath, Christopher, Amanda, Sarah.  Her great-grandchildren are Preston, Payton, Kayleigh, Evelyn, Charles, Evelyn Suzanne, Jacob, Zeke, Madison, Wyatt, Aliyah, Tomeeko, Tyler, Jaxson, Sylas, Adam, Ella, Zeb, Ezra, Owen, Gunnar, and Jamison. Her great-great grandchildren are Everett and Paisley.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Willard Eugene Raiford, Sr., daughter-in-law, Suzanne Raiford, grandchild, Benjamin Nunamaker, and her parents.
 

Services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (65 Melbourne St., Houston, TX 77022) on Friday, January 19, 2024.  Visitation will start at 10:00 a.m. and the funeral will start at 10:30 a.m.  Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. at Calvary Hill Cemetery (21723 Aldine Westfield Rd, Humble, TX 77338). 
 
Luncheon will follow at the Church.
 

Thank you for visiting this memorial web page.   Please sign the online guest book to let the family know you were here thinking of them.