Obituary of Milton Leroy Rayfield

AIKEN, SC – Milton Leroy “Lee” Rayfield Jr., age 87, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, February 24, 2024.

Lee was born July 24, 1936, in Newport News, VA to the late Milton Leroy Rayfield Sr and the late Catherine Henkle Rayfield. He graduated from Warwick High School in Newport News where he participated in all sports but his favorite sport was football.  While at Warwick High School his leadership skills became apparent and he was elected captain of the football team.  

Upon graduation he was awarded a football scholarship to Randolph Macon, a small liberal arts college in Ashland VA but after a short while he left Randolph Macon to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.  He enrolled in the apprentice program at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company and, as an apprentice boy, he joined the football team and honed his leadership skills and was elected captain of the football team.  While he was working at the shipyard he married a lady who encouraged him to pursue a college degree.  He took her advice and from the shipyard he went to Old Dominion University in Norfolk before transferring to Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.  At VT he earned an undergraduate degree in architectural engineering and a master’s degree in civil engineering.  Also, while he was a student at VT, he and his wife welcomed two infants, David and Amy, into their lives.  

As a proud graduate of Virginia Tech, Lee soon went to work with Bechtel where his VT engineering degrees and his leadership abilities were recognized and appreciated.  He became a Project Engineer and was transferred from place to place.  One of his most significant assignments was in Vicksburg MS where he met and later married Sarah and her daughter, Junell, became his stepdaughter.  Lastly, Bechtel brought Lee to Aiken, SC. There he met and married Barbara Jean Salley Cude and her family quickly became his family.

Lee became a member of Aiken’s First Baptist Church where he was an active member of the Faith Explorers Sunday School class.

Lee will be remembered for his kindness, his loving heart, his gentle disposition, and mostly for his strong Christian values.  He always considered the needs of other people and always tried to do the right thing.      

In addition to his parents, Lee was preceded in death by his wife, Sarah Rayfield.  Survivors are his wife of ten years, Barbara Jean Cude Rayfield, a daughter Amy Rayfield (David Cobb), a son David Rayfield, a stepdaughter Junell Brock, and a stepson Clint Cude (Julie); four grandchildren Joseph Chaney, Nick Farr (Mary), LeighAnn Rayfield (Jesse Rossiter), and Liz Rayfield; two great-grandchildren Greyson Rossiter and Delilah Farr.

The Family will receive friends on Saturday, March 9 at 10:00 at Aiken’s First Baptist Church, with the funeral service following at 11:00. Interment will be private. The Rev. John Carroll will officiate.   

Pallbearers will be Joseph Chaney, Clint Cude, Craig Clamp, Calvin Clamp, Justin Strickland, and Scott Mann

Memorial contributions may be directed to Aiken’s First Baptist Church, 120 Chesterfield St. N, Aiken, SC 29801

The Historic George Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 211 Park Ave., SW, Aiken, SC 29801 (803.649.6234), has charge of arrangements. 

Expressions of sympathy for the family may be left by visiting www.georgefuneralhomes.com