Chris Ramsey
Christopher "Chris" Lamont Ramsey, Sr. was a faithful servant, loving husband, amazing father, devoted son, brother, uncle, and friend who went to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 16, 2021
Chris was born on January 25, 1966, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Alvin Lee and Charmayne Ramsey. He accepted Christ at an early age and joined Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. Chris was a faithful member of New Covenant Fellowship Church for 18 years and served as an Elder. He oversaw the Altar, Health & Wellness, and Welcome Ministries.
Chris graduated from Brainerd High School in 1984. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Austin Peay State University in 1988 and his Master of Business Administration from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1990. While attending Austin Peay, Chris became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. After college, Chris continued to serve as an active Life Member and held several leadership roles on the Local, Province, and Grand Chapter levels.
Chris was employed at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee for 24 years in various management roles, including Director of Policy and Regulation. He also served as the President and CEO of Tech Town Foundation, a local non-profit dedicated to inspiring imagination, innovation, and collaboration through technology in children ages 7-17. Chris started his insurance agency, Chris Ramsey Agency (CRA), where he treated his clients “like family.” His business became his ministry, in which he wanted to ensure everyone had access to healthcare and understood their benefits. He also served as the Chief Strategy Officer at the Yesmar Strategy and Consulting firm where he consulted with several local companies. Chris, along with his business partner, LaQuentin Jenkins, started Simple Choice, a PPE supply company, during the COVID outbreak when there was a shortage of PPE supplies in the Chattanooga community. He worked tirelessly to help with the COVID screenings and education throughout the Chattanooga community with several organizations.
Chris’ passion was community service and advocating for the underserved community. He lived by the motto, “Service is the price we pay for the space we occupy.” He served on the Board of Directors for Boys and Girls Club in Chattanooga, where he served as board chairman in 2000 and UC Foundation Board of Directors. He also served as the Chair for the Annual Hamilton County Minority Health Fair (MHF) and was the founder and first chair for the Annual Boys Leadership Summit. These annual events fall under the Southeast Tennessee Health Consortium (SETHC) Foundation, where he served as the President. Chris was involved in various local programs that focused on scholarships, mentoring youth, and improving access to healthcare. He was most proud of being a Big Brother to his smalls, Stephen Smith and Marcus Ramsey, in which they had over a 30 years relationship. Chris was also a 2011 NAACP Ruby Hurley Humanitarian Honoree.
Chris was preceded in death by his father, Alvin Lee Ramsey, grandfather, Fredrick Puckett, and grandmother, Christine Puckett, all of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Chris will be forever remembered by his wife and best friend of 27 years, Lucrecia Rochelle (Evans) Ramsey, and their precious children daughter, Bria MaShaun Ramsey, and sons, Christopher Lamont Ramsey Jr. and Evan Walter Ramsey, all of Chattanooga, Tennessee; his mother, Charmayne (Puckett) Ramsey, sisters, Reginia (Isaac) Hamilton, Rhomonda Fifer, both of Chattanooga, Tennessee; brothers, Fredrick Ramsey of Chattanooga, Tennessee and Mark (Traci) Ramsey of Plano, Texas; father-in-law, Walter W. Evans, mother-in-law, Elizabeth Evans and sister-in-law, Lejandra (Darrin) Turner, all of Clarksville, Tennessee; best friend/brother, Victor (Sheila) Blanton of Atlanta, Georgia; a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
In lieu of flowers, and in honor of Chris’ legacy, the Chris Ramsey Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund was created, please follow the link to contribute to the fund: https://cfgc.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create?funit_id=1924
The family of Christopher Lamont Ramsey Sr. would like to thank the CCU COVID doctors and nurses at Chi Memorial Hospital who took such good care for Chris during his illness.
Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant (Matthew 25:23)
Public viewing will be held from 1-6 p.m. Friday, January 22, 2021 in the funeral home chapel. The Kappa Alpha Psi Memorial Ceremony will begin at 6:15 p.m. and will be streamed live at www.johnpfranklinfuneralhomefacebook.com.
A private family service will be held at the New Covenant Fellowship church Saturday, January 23rd at 11 a.m. Interment will be in Lakewood Memory Gardens.
The funeral service will be broadcast live beginning at 11 a.m. EST January 23, 2021 at www.johnpfranklinfuneralhomefacebook.com.
Arrangements are by John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Avenue, 423-622-9995.