Robert Raiford, Jr.

Robert James Raiford Jr. of Schertz, age 45, woke up in Heaven at 5:40am on Thursday June 23, 2022 when he died suddenly and unexpectedly at the Raiford home. His family and friends are still reeling.

Robert was a proud Texan and lived his whole life here. He was born in Corpus Christi on July 30, 1976, the son to Robert James Raiford Sr. and Jackie Hollis and younger brother to Chris Sparks. Robert’s father died when he was 8 years old.

When Robert was 9, his mom was remarried to George Powers. Robert gained two new siblings, Brian and Geoff Powers.

He played football in junior high and high school. He attended Magnolia High School where he lettered in football, track, and yearbook. He was an outstanding offensive lineman and was recruited by multiple schools for a college football scholarship. He graduated in 1994.

He attended Stephen F. Austin University and UTEP. In 2007 he received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Colorado Technical University with a perfect GPA of 4.0.

Robert met Susie (Engi) Raiford in 2001 and they married in 2003. They were married for 19 years at the time of his death.

Robert’s dad George died in June of 2008. In 2011 Jackie was remarried to Scott Hollis, and Robert gained three new siblings in Jenny, Brian, and Tim.

In 2010, Susie and Robert were blessed with a son, whom they named George Dennis after both of their Dads. One of Robert’s happiest memories was the day he got to baptize George. Robert had a great way of bonding with George and making him laugh.

Robert worked for Comal County for 21 years, first in the Sheriff’s Office for the jail where he eventually became the bonding corporal. He later transitioned to the IT department as an IT applications support specialist after he was assigned to learn a new database management software, Odyssey. He made many friends in the sheriff’s and IT departments and many others at Comal County.

The Raifords found their church home at River City Community Church in 2014. Robert served in the children’s ministry for 7 years up until the time of his death. He was an active AWANA Bible Clubs leader for all of those years, and also led Sunday school for toddlers then Kindergarteners.

He also led church community groups beginning in 2016 through the present, including two traditional home groups and an ongoing virtual support and prayer group for parents of children with special needs. He also served as PTA president at George’s elementary school.

Robert leaves behind his wife Susie, son George, and dog Buddy; his parents Jackie and Scott Hollis; his parents in law Dennis and Ann Engi; siblings Chris Sparks and husband Brian and their daughter Caitlin; Brian Powers and wife Katie and their children Jackson and Carly; Geoff Powers and his wife Misty and their children Devin and Cash, Beth Rewalt and her husband Brian and their children Bryce, Ally, and Brady; Mark Engi and his wife Desiree and their son Easton, Jennifer Noriega and her husband Al and their children Lexie and Jason; and Brian Hollis; as well as a large extended family and network of friends.

Contributions in memory of Robert can be made to River City Community Church in Selma, Texas.