Sigma Alpha Iota

4 Winter 2025 • sai-national.org Grace Notes Dr. Brenda C. Ray, former National President, passed away on March 30, 2024. She was 81. Dr. Ray was a 1961 initiate of the Iota Phi chapter at Peabody College, Vanderbilt University. There, she received Bachelors and Masters degrees in Piano Performance. She later attended Louisiana State University for a Doctor of Music Arts, also in Piano Performance. She served the Iota Phi chapter as recording secretary and president, and was the chapter's official delegate to the 1962 SAI National Convention in Chicago. She was a recipient of the Sword of Honor, Rose of Honor, and Ring of Excellence. Dr. Ray taught music at Mississippi State University for over twenty years, most notably in applied piano. During her tenure, she was instrumental in establishing the Epsilon Chi Chapter in 1971, and also served as Rho B Province President (1975–1987). At the 1987 SAI National Convention, she was elected as Vice President, Extension and Fraternity Development, which she served as for two terms. She was elected National President at the 1993 Convention in Cincinnati, a term that was extended to four years as the fraternity approached its 100th anniversary. In a PAN PIPES article following this election, she contemplated the fraternity's open motto—Life is short, art is long—and its personal impact: "As NVP-Extension and installing officer the last two Trienniums, I always felt a strong obligation to announce the Motto with the solemn dignity I feel it so deserves. After all, new initiates should know that: 1. the fraternity has an Open Motto, and 2. the Motto is not just any motto but, rather, an Hippocrates proverb with a message of ever- enduring truth." (Spring 1994) After retiring to Florida, Dr. Ray and her husband were actively engaged in historic preservation. They owned Little Big Store, an old-fashioned general store, and the Busy Bee Café, which had a turn-of-the-century atmosphere. Together, they supported the Turn Around Society and The Visitors Bureau. Dr. Ray was also a licensed airplane pilot. She performed widely in her local community and also played piano at several National Convention concerts. With over sixty years in Sigma Alpha Iota, Dr. Ray knew first-hand the powerful impact of music and the arts. In her own words in PAN PIPES, she shared, "More impressive... is Hippocrates' prophetic talent for forecasting the powerful influence the arts would have upon mankind. Indeed, it is difficult today to even imagine a world devoid of contributions made by past masters in our discipline alone—e.g., Beethoven, Mozart, Wagner. Since its founding, Sigma Alpha Iota has made far-reaching and long-lasting contributions through its varied activities... the fraternity has provided immeasurable enrichment to the lives of its members." Remembering Brenda Ray Former National President Dr. Brenda Ray Former National President Dr. Brenda Ray

• Cover