We began supporting Ray Meeks on Death Row in 1980 when he was 27 years old. We have sent him Christmas and birthday cards as well as financial support every year.
His death sentence was commuted to life in prison about five years ago and he is now incarcerated at Madison Correctional Institution. I continue to visit him, and many of you send him cards and notes. He appreciates this so very deeply.
Because of the money you have sent him year after year, his fund is now adequate for his needs for the coming year. So there is no need for money for Ray this year. Ray does appreciate your Christmas cards and notes. However, and there always seems to be a “however” in communicating with the Florida Department of Corrections, we cannot send cards directly to him. We send them to a clearing house where they are scanned and then sent to his tablet.
Please send your Christmas greetings to Douglas Raymond Meeks 046346, PO Box 23608, Tampa, FL. 33623.
Briefly, Ray was on his way home to Marks, Mississippi from working at a fruit packing plant in Umatilla, FL. His car broke down in Perry, FL. He went to sleep on the side of a road and woke up with a farmer and sheriff pointing guns at him. He was put in jail for two weeks without being charged. When he was released, his car had been impounded and he had no money to get it released. His cellmate took him in.
There was a robbery/murder in a convenience store in Perry that week. Ray and his cellmate were arrested. The cellmate turned state’s evidence and named Ray as the shooter. Ray’s defense was a trainwreck of incompetence.
Further details of Ray’s story are available in the booklet by Marj Hauptman, “Why Do We Care About Ray Meeks” in the foyer.
Ray is now 70 years old. While he has degenerative disc disease and uses a walker, has had a quadruple heart bypass, and is awaiting cataract surgery, he would tell you that he is doing well now. He takes drawing classes. He is able to walk freely throughout the grounds of the prison. He counsels younger inmates. He is well liked.
I saw Ray on November 28. In his art class each person is to make 20-40 Christmas cards which the art teacher will then distribute to folks at a nearby senior citizens’ residential facility. Ray is working very hard at this. Also, this year there is a contest for decorating each dorm with holiday decorations, and his dorm is very busy. Ray pointed out that he was on Death Row for 51 years, longer than anyone else. He knows each of the men who were recently executed, which is pretty tough on him.
He was taken to the Department of Corrections eye doctor last week in Ocala (he loved the chance to get outside and see the scenery). He has a cataract in one eye and is almost completely blind in that eye. He said they will schedule surgery sometime soon.
Keep him in your prayers.
Larry Reimer