Deacon Harold Bernard Ragland

Deacon Harold Bernard “Bay” Ragland a native of Columbus, Ohio, was born March 8, 1935, to Lucille Marie (Gibson) and Percy Phillip Ragland.  Bay was the middle child of nine that included, Dorothy Ellen, Wilbur Percy, Juanita Bessie, Mildred Marie, Lawrence Charles, Herbert Lloyd,Thelma Veretta and Welma Loretta.

Harold graduated from Central High School in 1954; and was a sergeant in the US Army with a honorable discharge in 1958.

Over the course of 60 years, Harold was a faithful and diligent employee of City National Bank, Continental Can Company (Anheuser Busch), and he retired from Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) as a driver after 19 years of service.  He then spent 10 years as a driver for Project Head Start. During the majority of that time, Harold also was employed with Allen Refractories part-time in facilities maintenance.

Harold was a faithful member of Antioch Baptist Church for 78 years, where he served as a member and Chairman of the Deacon Board, member of several choral groups (Male Chorus, Mass Choir, Heavenly Echo), Chairman and member of Transportation Ministry, the Senior Usher Board, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and he consistently checked on those convalescing.

Deacon Ragland was a hard-working man who provided for his family and became a father figure to countless others in the South Linden neighborhood. He enjoyed traveling with his wife, family, and friends all over the world from Jerusalem to Hawaii.

Harold received his wings on Sunday, June 26, 2022, at Mount Carmel East Hospital, in Westerville, Ohio, he was 87 years old.

Preceded in death by his parents, Lucille and Percy Ragland; his sisters, Dorothy, Mildred, and Thelma; brothers, Percy, Lawrence, and Lloyd; his sisters-in-law, Roberta Ragland, Sondra Ragland and Wanda Zimmerman; brothers-in-law, Clifford Holcomb, Harold Palmer, Raymond Reeves, Donald Young, Leonard Zimmerman and William Zimmerman, Jr.; and his nephew, Darrell Ragland.

Harold is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lucille; sons, Monty (Kay) Ragland, Marty (Julie) Ragland; grandchildren, Pariss Ragland, Iman Ragland; great grandchildren Jace McIntosh and Parker-Simone Gwinn; adopted great grandchildren, Ka’Milah and Ka’liyah Gwinn; sisters, Juanita Zimmerman, Welma Sutton; sisters-in-law, Beatrice Holcomb, Alva Reeves; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and the Antioch Baptist Church Family.