Dr. Ray McKenzie was born in Cleveland, Ohio to Parthenia and Ray McKenzie, Sr.  His family moved to Fluvanna County, Virginia where he grew up and attended schools.  It was in Fluvanna County through the nurture and care of the entire community that young Ray McKenzie heard and accepted his call to ministry in 1967.  Rev. McKenzie still considers Fluvanna County his family home.

He graduated valedictorian from high school and attended Virginia State College in Petersburg, Virginia, graduating with a B.A. in Philosophy.  Following graduation from college, he served four years as an officer in the Medical Service Corps of the United States Army, and was honorably discharged having attained the rank of Captain.  Dr. McKenzie graduated valedictorian from Virginia Union University, the School of Theology, where he earned his Master of Divinity degree in 1979 and Doctor of Ministry degree in 2003.

He has served the School of Theology in various capacities over the past thirty seven years.  Currently, he serves as Coordinator of the Evans Smith Leadership Training Institute and as an Instructor in Practical Theology teaching introductory Homiletics and Introduction to the Church and Ministry.

Dr. McKenzie served as Pastor of the Highway of Faith Holy Church in Arvonia, Virginia for twenty-four years and was presiding Bishop of the State of Virginia for the Mt. Sinai Holy Church of America, until 2001.  Dr. McKenzie resigned his positions with the Mt. Sinai Church and immediately joined the St. Peter Baptist Church of Glen Allen, Virginia where Dr. Kirkland Walton is the Pastor.  Dr. McKenzie is currently the senior Pastor for the Gravel Hill Baptist Church, Varina, Virginia.

Dr. McKenzie has five adult children from his first marriage to the late Ingrid F. McKenzie and is the proud grandfather of eleven grandchildren.  Dr. McKenzie is married to the Reverend Faith B. Harris and together they continue to seek God's continuous guidance for their lives.