It is with our deepest sympathies that we announce the passing of Former Kannapolis Mayor Ray Moss who died Friday, January 17, at the age of 89.
Moss served two terms as Mayor from 1997-2005. As Mayor, he led the community through Weaving a Shared Future, a strategic visioning process that established a long-term plan for improving Kannapolis and its quality of life. He established the Kannapolis Youth Council to encourage participation and involvement in local government. As the City struggled through the recession and the loss of its largest employer, Pillowtex, he led the City Council as they invested in economic development, parks and recreation, streets and infrastructure. All of these efforts led to jobs, new businesses, and other industrial, retail, and commercial developments.
Some of the accomplishments during his two terms included, but were not limited to: the completion of the Dale Earnhardt Tribute Plaza, construction of the Village Park Amphitheatre, HOPE: a job fair, after the closing of Pillowtex, the current Kannapolis Train Station and the developments of the North Carolina Research Campus and Kannapolis Gateway Business Park.
Before Moss became Mayor, he spent 16 years as a minister of United Methodist Churches, five years as the Executive Director of Inner City Ministry in Greensboro, five years as the Executive Director of Prison Ministry of North Carolina, and 11 years as a hospital administrator for programming in Florida and South Carolina.
"With great sadness I learned of the passing of former Mayor Ray Moss. Ray was my mentor and my friend. As a former minister he always had a heart for those in need. After his retirement he would call to 'check up' on members of Council and pass along some advice. He never stopped praying for good things for Kannapolis and our citizens. Thanks Ray, for being a wonderful part of our memories," commented Kannapolis Mayor Darrell Hinnant. "We offer our condolences to his children and extended family. "
Ray and his wife, Betty, who passed away in October 2019, were married for almost 70 years.
Funeral arrangements: https://www.bucktroutfuneralhome.net/obituary/oscar-ray-moss/
