Raymond Gamble, a longtime local business owner and the founder of Gamble Funeral Home, died Wednesday morning.
Funeral services will be noon Monday at the James E. Bruce Convention Center, with burial to follow in Cave Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be from noon until 6 p.m. Sunday at Gamble Funeral Home. Gamble was the owner and lead funeral director, embalmer and notary. He started Gamble Funeral Home in May of 1987 on South Liberty Street and rebuilt his business after fire destroyed the old building in 2005.
MEDI Executive Director Henry Snorton says Gamble will be dearly missed, and he was a man that not only had great business sense, but could make people feel heard and valued.
Snorton says Gamble was recognized by the Minority Economic Development Initiative in recent years for his success, dedication to the community and for being a business role model.
He worked closely with his wife, Angela Gamble, his daughter Angelique Gamble and brother Joe Gamble, along with Cleadis Sivil, Jeanette White and Garvin Henry, according to the Gamble Funeral Home website.
The community reacted with sorrow and heartfelt expressions of sympathy to the family Wednesday, after news of his passing spread.