The work of Chattanooga healthcare pioneer Chris Ramsey lives on through his successors

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — COVID-19 claimed the life of a man who worked to help people fight the virus. Now, the community he served is making sure his memory lives on forever.

Chris Ramsey lost his battle with the virus back in January.

Those closest to him told us Ramsey was a key leader in expanding testing and making information more available to Chattanooga’s underserved communities.

Over the weekend, the organization he helped, made sure his efforts will always be remembered.

Chris Ramsey was a staple Cempa Community Care, helping minority communities through the pandemic.

But his colleagues say even though the virus took his life, it won’t stop his efforts.

One of Chris Ramsey’s main missions was to serve the underserved. And when the pandemic hit he did just that.

“People from an African-American background trust their churches, they trust their pastors, so we wanted to use that to reach the different people in our communities and it turned out great,” said LaDarius Price, Ramsey’s colleague and mentee at Cempa Community Care.

Price worked side by side with Ramsey on the Faith-Based Health and Wellness Council at Cempa. They have now named the council after Ramsey.

“The testing and stuff you’ve seen at churches, a lot of that was because Chris Ramsey had great relationships with those pastors and churches. We were able to implement and form that partnership.”

“Chris was on the front line making sure that everyone was getting tested no matter what color person but primarily African American community,” said Kevin Love, Ramsey’s mentee while at TechTown Chattanooga.

The many people Ramsey mentored say he put every last breath in the work he was so passionate about.

Just yesterday, Chattanooga Business Elite awarded him best insurance agent and had a humanitarian award renamed after him.

“It was only right for us to rename it after Chris. He gave a powerful speech last year as well. So for us, it was right,” said Love.

Though his efforts continue on by his mentees and colleagues, they say there will never be another Ramsey.

“When you lose a giant in your community, as he was, there’s a huge void that no one person can fill,” said Price.

Even though the faith-based council was renamed in his honor, their duties to helping underserved communities will remain the same.

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