DeRon Ray Freeman

DeRon Ray Freeman, beloved mother, dreamer, and eternal optimist, passed away peacefully on August 26, 2025, in Bluffton, South Carolina, at the age of 84. Born on July 7, 1941, in Macon, Georgia, she lived a life full of passion, inspiration, and love.

DeRon graduated from Miller High School in Macon, Georgia in 1959, before pursuing higher education by earning her bachelor’s degree from Emory University in Atlanta and later completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the Medical College of Georgia. Her dedication to caring for others was evident in her career as a nurse, where her compassion and warmth touched many lives.

Her proudest role and greatest joy, however, was that of being a mother. She gave up her nursing career to raise her family, a sacrifice she made wholeheartedly and without regret. To them, she was the greatest mom a child could ever imagine - loving, nurturing, supportive, protective, and filled with endless encouragement.

As an empty nester her travels and adventurous spirit led her to relocate to Montserrat for a period, experiencing the Caribbean lifestyle and culture firsthand. DeRon was always planning her next adventure whether it be scuba diving, traveling in her RV, or on a conservation trip to the Isle of Man tracking leatherback sea turtle nesting sites.

She was proceeded in death by her father O.L. Ray, her mother Sereca Spivey Dorsey, her stepfather Herman Dorsey, and her daughter-in-law Carrie Freeman.

She is survived by her two sons: Ronald Allen Freeman, Jr. of Bluffton, South Carolina, and Andrew Glenn Freeman, M.D. (Lisa) of Fairhope, Alabama. She was a proud grandmother to Keela Canavaggio (Derrick), Macey Fox (Denver), Abigail Curran (Trevor), Carter Freeman, Sarah Margaret Hill (Chance), Fletcher Freeman, and Tucker Freeman. She was also blessed with great-grandchildren who brought her immeasurable joy: Brody, Taylor, Tripp, Anders, Turner, and Clovie Fox, as well as Case, Quinn, and Ellis Hill.

DeRon was a very spiritual person, just prior to her passing she wrote a comforting note in her bible, “You can know I’m in Heaven with my Father and Lord”.

Her spirit will live on in the love of her family and in the countless memories she leaves behind. She will be deeply missed and forever cherished.

A private family memorial will be held in Bluffton, South Carolina, to honor her life and legacy.