Raphael Sheldon “Ray” Tamar
1951 - 2024
Raphael Sheldon “Ray” Tamar passed away on April 23, 2024 in Winston-Salem, North
Carolina with his family at his side.
Raphael was born September 21, 1951 in New York City to Redvers and Elma Tamar, and grew
up in Hempstead, Long Island, New York. The lifelong friendships known by him and his
siblings speak multitude for his love of others and his community from a young age. The Tamar
household was a common place of social gatherings led by him and his siblings. At the age of
21, he started a Youth Center in his hometown of Hempstead.
He left New York in 1982 for Houston and moved on to Austin, Texas working for many years as
a Computer Systems Analyst. This brought him to San Jose, California where he met and
married Sharon. In 1989 they moved back to Pflugerville, Texas before settling in Raleigh, North
Carolina in 2001, and moving to Kernersville, North Carolina in 2021.
Raphael was a member of Unity Church of Raleigh for over 20 years, serving on the Prayer
Team and as an usher. He loved his church.
Raphael is survived by his wife of 35 years, Sharon, his daughters Kemba (New York City)
Keisha (Tampa, FL) and Rachel (Kernersville, NC), and his Grandchildren Kaiya, Khari, Kayden
and Raylan who know him as “Happy”, his brother Kyron Tamar (Clermont, FL), and sisters
Karen Tamar (Houston, TX) and Camella Simeon (Raleigh, NC) and several nieces and
nephews.
Raphael passed down his love of laughter, music, and sports to his children and grandchildren.
He loved to be surrounded by his friends and family. Raphael lived and loved hard. He had a
deep genuine love for everyone around. His bright smiling face and contagious laugh will live
on.
To Honor him, the family requests that instead of flowers, charitable donations be made in
Raphael’s memory to Unity Church of Raleigh 5124 Departure Drive, Suite 108 Raleigh, NC
27616.
Raphael’s Celebration of Life Service will be held on May 4, 2024 at Unity Church of Raleigh
5124 Departure Drive Raleigh NC27616. Livestream will be available at:
unitychurchofraleigh.com
My prayers go out to the family and friends of Raphael. May he rest in eternal peace.
Sending heartfelt condolences to Sharon , Rachel, Kemba , Keisha and the Tamar Family (siblings Camella, Kyron and Karen) in the loss of Brother Ray. His love of people and infectious laugh will always be remembered. I’ll remember the long talks, listening to music and the parties of course. Your intelligence and work ethic are noteworthy. May your soul soar high hermano. RIP 🙏🏼 💜
My heartfelt prayers and condolences go out to the Tamar family. I only knew Raphael in passing each other in the halls of Hempstead High School. He always had a ready smile…
Such a nice guy. Always happy to see you in Hempstead as we were growing up. You’ll never be forgotten.
Condolences to the Tamar family. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
RIP to my only Uncle Raphael.🙏🙏🙏🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊😢😭 Never going to forget his laughter and jokes. Always referred to me as the son he never had and that will always hold a special place in my heart. Give a big hug and kiss to my grandparents up there in heaven for me!!🇬🇩🇬🇩🇬🇩🇬🇩🇬🇩
Sheila Whitaker
My deepest condolences to the Tamar Family. Ray was one of my oldest and dearest friends. May he rest in eternal peace.
So very sorry for your loss. Sending prayers of comfort and strength to the entire Tamar family!
Our sincerest condolences to Karen and the Tamar Family. May Raphael rest in peace.
Patrick and Dawn Moore.
Our prayers are raised up for our Beloved Cousin Raphael and his Loved Ones. He is where he is needed to be, with our Lord and Savior, safe and blessed, rejoicing with all the members of our Family for generations. 🇧🇧 🇬🇩. Rest in Power.
William F.GlendaY.Solomon
Our condolences with Sharon and family we will miss Ray but God Love him more.
Raphael & I were 22mos. apart. We were like twins in someways…We shared the same friends, shared similar responsibilities as children, traveled as a family. As competitors…Raphael beat me most times (Ping-pong, cards, scrabble, etc.)…Helped me groom & develop my competitiveness… Needed for medical school. When we have parties… It didn’t matter… Kyron and Raphael or Raphael and Kyron are having another party! Raphael put together the music (Reel to Reel), and I would take care of the other details. He had the first eight track in his car. He was ahead of us all. Now he is at Peace….& We, the Family….are at Peace. Thank you, one and all, for your condolences, memories, & prayers🙏🏾
To my big brother Raphael ‘Ray’
I will miss you but will always love and remember you. You were 5 years older than me but could never discipline me like Kyron, the oldest brother. You taught me a lot, also gave me my 1st job at the Hempstead Youth Center in Summer 1972 which you started with grants.
I forgive you for not being able to get me back (LOL)
In college SUNY at Albany even though you wrote such great letters but I was too young at 16-17 to be in college and off campus. I did well at CUNY
Sharing an apartment in Houston with you shopping and cooking while I worked and you were looking for a job was great for me. As Olga said you were the reason I didn’t cook early on because you were always doing my share of the cooking. I did finally learn. Your daughter Keisha makes your Mac and cheese as good as you do.
You were always there for me to tell you anything at all without reacting. I appreciated that except for the summer you told me
‘ I gave you an inch and you took a damn mile’ and I was packed up to go to the Kearneys house on Dorlon st. to spend the remaining summer weeks while Mommy and Daddy were gone on vacation Remembering when we drove to Houston Tx in January 1982 when we both left Hempstead. Remembering driving between Fort Worth (me) Austin (you) and Houston ( family) for holidays.
Teaching me by CRAZY example of how to drive a car thru a skid while in front of the Chapman/Lovells house in Hempstead in the snow.
Coming to Denver Co when I left my bad marriage to help drive me and the truck home with Mommy and Daddy back to Houston Tx even though you said he was an okay guy but maybe not for you.
Anyway too many times to list but I always appreciated your advice even though I may not have listened.
Until we
meet again- Say hello to Dad, Mom and the rest of the family. RIP
I love you.
AND BY THE way. Don’t think I forgot on Friday, 4/19 est time 5:30 about THE FAVORITE SISTER remark. But it’s okay.
Both Camella and I will agree both of us were.
Love you
Karen Colleen Tamar
Our condolences to you and your family. My God bring you and your family peace as you grieve your loss.
BTW… I did beat Raphael at something, that we joked about for many years. Raphael and Sharon had a house in Pflugerville, Texas. He had a basketball hoop in the driveway, as we loved football and basketball. Additionally, their daughter, Rachel, was the “Boy” they never had. When I came over, we played one on one, and I was able to back him down, & post him up in the lane, given that I had gained some weight, finally… and I was finally able to beat him with my “Kareem Abdul” Tamar…”Ky” Hook! Rest In Peace & Power, My Brother🙏🏾❤️
My deepest condolences to Kyron, Karen, Sharon and the whole Tamar family. Raphael, you and I were close friends from the 3rd grade at Marshall School. You were always considerate, kind and fully engaged. We always reinforced and supported each other as we grew up navigating life in the mean streets of Hempstead NY! I’ll always remember our friendship with smiles and gratitude! RIP my friend!
Rest well uncle Ray my deepest sympathies to the whole Tamar family1L
Ray was a great godbrother/godson. He when his godmother Gloria was alive, he would call me to check on her or ask me to put her on the phone sovthat he could hear her voice. Ray can now speak to her, his Mom, Dad, etc. Rest in peace Ray. Kisses