THE REAL ESTATE GROUP

Ray Bergey has invested his life in helping others

by John Downs, Sr.

Realtor® Ray Bergey and his wife, Debbie

Ray and Debbie Bergey are definitely not like the two ships who passed in the night. In fact, a big slice of their married life was spent on a ship.

Ray is a lifelong resident of Chesapeake, a respected Realtor®, and member of The Real Estate Group. His wife, Debbie, heads up the eye program at the Surgery Center of Chesapeake. Their life’s story is one of caring and concern for their fellow man.

The name Bergey may sound familiar to Chesapeake residents, since the family  had one of the most popular dairy farms in the area. Although he was not directly connected with the farm, Ray, like many Bergeys, worked there delivering milk.

Early in his life, Ray knew that he wanted to be in the business of helping people. It was no accident, then, that after he graduated from high school he accepted a position with the City of Norfolk’s Emergency Medical Services. Little did Ray realize that the ambulance he drove would one day lead him to his future wife.

Ray Bergey meets with clients in his office.

Debbie clearly recalls that day in 1977 when she was working in the ER at DePaul Hospital and, although she’d seen Ray numerous times before, he was particularly gentle and helpful with a patient he brought in.

“I knew at that moment that I wanted more than just a passing acquaintance with this wonderful man,” Debbie says with a warm smile. A short year later, they were married.

Over the following decade, they were occupied with their careers and raising their daughters, Elizabeth and Meredith.

When Debbie received an invitation to a reception on board the Mercy Ship Anastasis in 1988, their lives took another turn. This caring couple had been searching for a truly meaningful way to contribute to a better world; they decided to commit to a two-year mission of mercy and medical service around the world.

“We were both uniquely qualified to help,” Ray remembers. “I handled logistics and supply management. Debbie did a little bit of everything including extraordinary and compassionate medical care.”

That two-year commitment turned into an 11-year adventure with ports of call all over Europe and Africa.

“The effect of serving those years on board ship and in foreign coutnries was that we bonded as a family in the best possible way. Our girls learned the value of compassion and service. They went places and did things very few young people ever have the opportunity to experience,” Debbie reflects.

Both girls, in fact, have pursued careers in medicine: Elizabeth is a Pediatric ICU nurse in Pennsylvania, and Meredith is in med school in London, England.

Ray and Debbie continue to use their compassion and talents to help people in need.

He is a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), working with homeowners who are in perilous straits.

“In today’s economy, my services are in great demand,” Ray says. “One statistic that may be a shock is that nearly six out of every 10 homeowners who went to foreclosure had never contacted their mortgage holder to see if a solution could be worked out.

“One of the services I offer free of charge is to sit down and counsel homeowners who are in a precarious situation. I will assess their situations and offer meaningful solutions. There really is no need for anyone to lose everything because of a challenging economy.”

“Even if a homeowner has managed to stay afloat, there is a real possibility that they know someone who needs our help,” Debbie says. “So much of Ray’s business comes from former and current clients referring friends to Ray for counseling.”

As a member of The Real Estate Group and a licensed professional Realtor® with decades of experience, Ray is proud to offer his clients a one-stop experience.

“Everything involving the buying or selling of a home can be handled in-house. I am with my clients at every stage, from introduction to closing, and that includes buying or selling a residence, new construction, land acquisition and development, and property management.

“My clients have access to the complete MLS listings where we showcase homes that meet their specific criteria — the number of bathrooms, school district, acreage —and they can search from their home computers or cell phones.

“I have worked hard to build a reputation of trust. 70% of my business is referrals and clients I’ve worked with before.

“My goal is to have a lifelong relationship with every client.”

Jim Cleavenger agrees. Previously he was a longtime resident of Chesapeake, Virginia but now lives in Edenton, North Carolina. He was a client of Ray’s and is still a good friend.

He comments, “I met Ray 23 years ago when he helped me find my first home. He and Debbie were very accommodating. They even invited me and my wife into their home during our move. It’s easy for me to describe Ray. He is professional, personable, patient, thorough, and hardworking. I would undoubtedly recommend Ray. In fact, as a referral agent for The Real Estate Group, I do just that frequently.”

Their caring missions are still an important part of the Bergeys’ lives.

“We seldom go on missions anymore but we do support them financially,” Ray says. “As a family, we did go to help the people devastated by hurricane Katrina, and most recently we worked in the poorest county in West Virginia.”

“Our lives are founded on caring about others,” Ray concludes, “no matter what their needs.”