The Sixth Man
In his spare time, Willie Ray works on beaded bracelets at Firefly Bead Store in Carrboro, NC. This weekly tradition is one he's kept up for years, crafting pieces to give to friends, Carolina fans, and anyone he notices along the way. Store owner, Melanie “Mel” Jackson has watched him become one of Firefly's most loyal regulars.
When asked about what motivated him to start and continue beading, Ray explains, “It all goes back to being kind. You never know when you might just make somebody’s day, and it doesn’t take me no time anyway."
Willie is part of a growing and largely overlooked population. More than one third of adults aged 50 to 80 feel lonely, and nearly as many feel socially isolated, according to a national poll from AARP. Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, the 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States, reports that “Loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling—it harms both individual and societal health…[and] is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia… and premature death.” This research shows the mortality impact of social isolation in aging adults is even greater than physical inactivity and obesity.
As a veteran usher for UNC Athletics, Willie Ray has built relationships with generations of Carolina students and fans. He treasures getting to “see people through different times in their life.”
Some connections run so deep, fans will stay after games just to make sure they see Ray before they go. Sharing his bracelets allows Ray to leave an impact on the individuals he meets regardless of age. "Each side needs the other," he says. "The younger need the older, their wisdom and knowledge."
Ray understands this experience firsthand. "Your circle starts like this," he says, arms stretched wide, "but as you get older it just gets smaller, that's why you need people who love you and tell you they love you."
Willie Ray, 65, has been an usher for Carolina Athletics for the past 27 years — and a Carolina fan for years before that. Known among colleagues and fans alike for his friendly demeanor, Ray uses simple acts of generosity and observation to cultivate community while navigating retirement.
After losing his wife, Willie Ray raised their children alone. "I had to learn how to be a single parent, and that wasn't easy," he says. He reflects similarly on his own childhood, “Nobody was there to show me what to do…I was always listening and observing... I learned how to be a man and how to carry myself by watching other people."
"For me, I've always been a Carolina Fan... and working here I'm able to meet so many people." Willie Ray talks about his time Ushering at Carolina and explains, "When I give someone a bracelet... It's about giving them a positive experience, and that sticks with people."
Though retired, Willie Ray stays close to the communities he loves through his work as a UNC Athletics usher. While navigating retirement, Ray notes that, "time waits for no one… My mind is still young, but my body just can't keep up like it used to. When you get older you’ve got to find something you love to fill your time.” And for Willie Ray, beading and bleeding Carolina Blue lets his love linger in every interaction with the people he meets in and outside the stadium.
Willie Ray's connection to Carolina football began as a love story. For three years, his wife gave him season tickets as a Father's Day gift. When she passed in 2016, a fellow usher who had spotted him in the stands through the years handed him a job application. He has been showing up ever since.
Below, Willie Ray shares a poem written by his late wife, who passed away from cancer in 2016, leaving him a widower and single father.