The Ray A. Peacock Memorial Scholarship Fund was founded in Burkeville, Texas to honor the memory of Ray Anthony Peacock, an outstanding student of Burkeville High School, Class of 1977.   Ray was the first in his family to attend college, pursuing his dream at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.

Cecil and Theresa Peacock founded The Ray Anthony Peacock Scholarship Fund to honor the memory of their son, Ray Anthony Peacock. Ray was an outstanding student at Burkeville High School. He graduated in 1977, and began to pursue a degree at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas; however tragically, in 1977 his life ended. His short life was marked by outstanding academic achievement and community work.

The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial aid for those students who, like Ray, strive for academic excellence and are committed to the community and public service. It encourages candidates to pursue their academic goals and to reflect on the needs of society and their role in creating a better future. The successful candidate(s) will be a graduating senior, who aspires to higher education upon graduation, exhibits excellent writing skills, exhibits a record of community or public service, and has a financial need.

Ray’s life ended abruptly, senselessly on November 5,1977, when struck by a vehicle in what was believed a racially motivated hate crime. Ray’s family was able to overcome this great loss and redirect their grief to positively channel Ray’s dream of a college education. The Ray A. Peacock Foundation was founded to support those like Ray, in their pursuit of education and the opportunity for fulfilling lives.

Early foundation funding was achieved through the efforts of Ray’s loving mother, Theresa Peacock. Theresa drew upon her skills as an accomplished seamstress and sold fine, lace handkerchiefs she’d created to fund the foundation’s first student. In1984, Cecil and Theresa Peacock presented the first Ray Anthony Peacock Memorial Scholarship at the Burkeville High School graduation ceremony.  Since formalizing the Ray A. Peacock Foundation, 35 students have received scholarships. The memory of Ray Anthony Peacock lives on in the students who achieve their dreams of academic excellence and pay it forward in their commitment to public service.

In June 2001, The Ray Anthony Peacock Memorial Scholarship Fund was incorporated as a 501(c) (3).  In 2010, the Ray Anthony Peacock Memorial Scholarship Fund begin to operate under the DBA of The Ray A. Peacock Foundation.