By Marie Y. Lemelle
Contributing Writer
INGLEWOOD — The life of Asherey “Rayray” Ryan was celebrated by family and friends Aug. 30 at the Faithful Central Bible Church Tabernacle.
Ryan, 23, and her unborn son were killed Aug. 4 in a horrific traffic accident at the intersection of La Brea and Slauson avenues that also killed Ryan’s 11-month-old son Alonzo Quintero, her fiance Reynold Lester and two other women.
Many of those attending the service wore purple, Ryan’s favorite color. Her mother, Sharita Randleston, dressed in white, was accompanied by other family members and friends.
“My angel since birth only now you’ve gained wings,” Randleston said.
Ryan, the oldest of five children, was remembered as a loving daughter, passionate mother, talented athlete, an amazing singer, and for enjoying life.
“I will miss her big, bright smile and singing,” her grandmother, Senonita Randleston, said. “It’s hard to believe she’s gone. “She was interested in the field of forensics, like her baby sister.”
Ryan’s great-grandmother, Shirley Randleston, who is 83 and lives in San Francisco, commented on the crash that killed Ryan.
“The driving laws need to change,” she said. “Road rage and reckless driving is out of control everywhere. I gave up driving to avoid the dangers of the road.”
Ryan, her fiancé Lester and her son Alonzo were on the way to a doctor’s appointment when the crash occurred. Nicole Lorraine Linton, 37, a traveling nurse from Houston who was working at Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center, has been charged with six counts of murder and five counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence in connection with the crash.
A judge postponed a bail review hearing Aug. 31 for Linton, who was ordered to remain jailed without bail pending the rescheduled hearing on Sept. 12.
“In death, Asherey and her sons touched lives around the world,” the Rev. Melvin King said during the service.
Marie Y. Lemelle is a freelance writer for The Wave. She also is the founder of Platinum Star Public Relations and Platinum Star Media Group. She can be reached at marielemelle@platinumstarpr.com.
