NOLA native Segura raises family in Madison

MADISON – Ray Segura, a New Orleans native, loves his hometown but believes “Madison appeals more to me because I’m raising a family.”

“Even though it’s not a big city, there’s always something safe and fun to do in Madison with my whole family,” Segura said. He works as Youth and Adult Sports Director at Hogan Family YMCA.

“Madison is a great city. I love that Madison has a great school system, safe and welcoming neighborhoods and everything you need is close by,” Segura said.

Born and raised in New Orleans, he moved to Cullman in his senior year of high school after Hurricane Katrina. “People in Cullman welcomed my family, about 45 of us, with warm, welcoming arms while I played football. I landed a football scholarship at Alabama A&M University, where I graduated, met my wife and settled in Madison,” Segura said.

He and his wife Faith have two sons, who are five and two years old.

Monthly, Segura and other YMCA directors commit one Saturday to community volunteering. The past two months, they worked with Habitat for Humanity and Downtown Rescue Mission. He also is a big brother for Big Brothers Big Sisters North Alabama.

“I devote my free time to volunteering because giving back makes me feel good. I’m Youth Sports Director at Hogan Family YMCA, and my youth sports would not succeed without volunteers,” he said. “I also volunteer because I do not want to just live in the world … I want to make a difference in it.”

Rhythm and blues is Segura’s favorite style of music. He likes to listen to the sounds of Usher, John Legend, Drake and The Weeknd.

“When it’s ‘family night,’ my boys would say our favorite restaurant is Domino’s. When it’s ‘date night,’ we enjoy Sakura Steakhouse restaurant off County Line Road,” he said.