Gray obituaries, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Name, date of obit, date submitted, submitted for the USGenWeb Archives by: Gray, Betsy 21 Dec 2007 Dec 2007 Jerry Nelson Gray, Glenda Sonja 10 Aug 2008 Aug 2008 Jerry Nelson Gray, Helen 1 Jun 2013 Jun 2013 Jerry Nelson Gray, Huey Pierce 12 Oct 2002 Oct 2002 Don Johnson Gray, Leanna W. 7 Sep 2009 Sep 2009 Jerry Nelson Gray, Lillie Jul 2013 Jerry Nelson Gray, Mary Florence 16 May 1930 Jun 2000 Carol/Jerry Nelson Gray, Meda Angele 27 Oct 2005 Nov 2005 Jerry Nelson Gray, Philip A. 26 Jun 2009 Jul 2009 Jerry Nelson Gray, Willie L, Jr. May 2013 Jerry Nelson *************************************************************************** Obituary published in The Advocate (Baton Rouge): 12/21/2007 GRAY, BETSY A resident of Baker, she died Sunday, Dec. 16, 2007, at her home. She was 77 and a native of Shreveport. She retired in 2003 from the state Department of Health and Hospitals with 29 years of service. Visiting at Greenoaks Funeral Home on Saturday, Dec. 22, from 10 a.m. until religious service at noon, conducted by Shantee Witherspoon of Miracle Place Church. Interment in Greenoaks Memorial Park. She is survived by two daughters, Debby Monistere and husband Anthony, of Hammond, and Leesa Sitter and husband Jimmy, of Shreveport; two sons, Billy Jack Gray Jr. and wife Olga, of Houston, and Joseph Gray, of Baton Rouge; a brother, Jimmy Avery and wife Mae Nell; six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and her beloved cat companions, Midnight and Nightmare. She was preceded in death by her spouse, Billy Jack Gray Sr.; parents, Joseph Mouton Avery and Lula Mae Avery; son, Cary Gray; and brother, Kenneth Avery. Betsy had many dear friends. She taught her family faith, love and laughter. She lived her life with great courage and compassion with the Lord and the serenity prayer as her guide. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Miracle Place Church, 2080 Main St., Baker, LA 70714. *************************************************************************** Obituary published in The Hammond Daily Star on: 8/10/2008 GRAY, GLENDA SONJA Survived by one sister, Tommie Martin; two daughters, Melissa Wulf & Brandy Lewing; two sons, Joseph "Robbie" Zwirek III & K. Spirit Zwirek; two grandsons, Tyler Bryant & Sergio Martinez; best friend & companion Diane Dore. Glenda was a co-parent to Terry & Robert Dore and a loving "maw-maw" to the many special children in her life. She is preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, step-father, her son, Mack and granddaughter, Joycie. Visitation will be held Saturday, August 9, 2008 at Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home, Hammond from 7:00 pm until 10:00 pm and on Sunday, August 10th after 8:00 am. Services will be held in the funeral home chapel, Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 2:00 pm. Interment will follow at Tickfaw Catholic Cemetery. An online guestbook is available at www.harrymckneely.com http://www.harrymckneely.com *************************************************************************** Obituary published in The Advocate (Baton Rouge) on: 6/1/2013 GRAY, HELEN Born February 12, 1925, in Hammond, LA, Helen Margurite Gray passed away on Sunday, May 26, 2013. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Ruby May, her parents, Ben and Delilah Williams, her sister, Evelyn Turner, 10 grandchildren and a host of other relatives. Family and friends of the family are invited to the service on Saturday, June 1, 2013, at 11:00 am at New Home Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, 3000 Tecumseh Street with Pastor Samuel Blakes officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Interment: Brown-Quinn Cemetery in Tangipahoa, LA. Rhodes United Fidelity Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to sign guest book. *************************************************************************** Obituary published in The Advocate (Baton Rouge) on: 10/12/2002 GRAY, HUEY PIERCE Huey P. Gray, 74, died at Evergreen Oaks, his Chatawa home, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2002. He passed away quietly with family and caregivers present. Visitation was held at Hartman Funeral Home, McComb, Miss., from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. Visitation at Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Magnolia, Miss., from 1 p.m. until funeral service at 2 p.m. Saturday. Graveside service at Dickey Cemetery at Evergreen Oaks in Chatawa. The Rev. Mary Anne Heine will officiate. Mr. Gray was born Dec. 31, 1927, in Kentwood. He was a graduate of Kentwood High School and Southeastern Louisiana University, where he received his bachelor of science degree in agriculture in 1952, graduating with honors. He attended Southwest Mississippi Junior College and completed graduate work at LSU. Mr. Gray served as a bacteriologist for the Mississippi State Board of Health for 37 years, until his retirement in 1993. In this capacity, he ensured that the people of Mississippi had safe, healthy and pure water and milk products on their grocery shelves and in their homes. As a bacteriologist, he ran a multitude of scientific tests on local water supplies and samples from dairy farms throughout Mississippi. When problems were found, he acted swiftly to protect the public; but worked equally hard to help farmers correct their problems so that their own livelihoods were saved. He was a public servant of the highest order, quietly touching and protecting the lives of the citizens of south Mississippi. His personal commitment to protecting the environment started long before it was popular to speak out against pollution, and long before anyone had ever been called an environmentalist. Over 30 years ago, he noticed that the scenic Tangipahoa River would occasionally contain dead fish or change dramatically in color. He organized the first citizens committee to stop industries from dumping dyes and other toxic substances in our rivers. He appreciated clean air, bright water and rich soil, and protected it so that others may live and learn to appreciate it as well. He respected those he met, reached out to those in need and embraced and motivated those who helped. He worked equally hard for the public, private and parochial schools in Pike County, serving on numerous school, community and professional boards and committees. He helped pass the bond issue to build a new school at South Pike, was president of the PTA at South Pike, president of the school board at Parklane Academy, a Little League coach, a Rotary Club member and served on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Committee. He never missed an event in over 25 years of having children in Pike County schools. Because of his tireless dedication to education, the "Spirit Award" at Parklane Academy is named for Mr. Gray. Upon his state retirement, he continued full-time management of Gray Farms, one of the few remaining family owned and operated dairy farms in Pike County. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving on the USS Massachusetts. Some may remember when he returned home from duty, a bright- eyed young sailor; others may remember him as a young entrepreneur, running the Tasty Freeze in Kentwood; others may remember him as Santa Claus in the Osyka Christmas Parade; still others remember him as a 1993 Enterprise Journal Unsung Hero; or for appearing in the PBS documentary film about Louisiana Gov. and U.S. Sen. Huey P. Long, his namesake; and many remember him for his twinkling blue eyes, his snow-white hair, his kindness, compassion and caring. Mr. Gray loved his family, his friends, the land, laughter and life. We are blessed and better for having had him on this earth for 74 years. Mr. Gray is survived by his wife of 52 years, Dorothy Simmons Gray; a son, Edwin Michael Gray of Jackson, Miss.; two daughters, Rannah Gray of Baton Rouge, and Dr. Abigail Gray-Briggs of San Antonio, Texas; a granddaughter, Melissa Scott Gray of Baton Rouge; a son-in-law, Col. James Briggs of San Antonio, and his children, Elizabeth, Edward and James II; a brother, Phillip Gay and his wife, Toni, of Kentwood; three sisters, Peggy Varnado and her husband, Dr. Jimmy Varnado, of Greensburg, Antionette Wilson and her husband, Donald Ray Wilson, and Nancy Birch and her husband, Ladell Birch, all of Kentwood; a sister-in-law, Kay Gray of Shreveport; a large extended family and many dear friends. Mr. Gray was preceded in death by his parents, James and Nettie Gray, who were of Kentwood; father-in-law, Edwin L. Simmons; mother-in-law, Bonnie Simmons; three brothers, Leahman Paul Gray, who was of Shreveport, James Monroe Gray and James "Ducky" Gray; and a sister, Velma Georgia Gray. The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thanks to Dr. Carl Luikart, Dr. Jimmy Varnado, Richard Newman and Anthony Gooden for their loving care during his lengthy illness. *************************************************************************** Obituary published in The Advocate (Baton Rouge): 9/7/2009 GRAY, LEANNA W. A deputy State Fire Marshal, she died at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009, at her home in Ponchatoula. She was 50 and a native of Texarkana, Ark. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, on Tuesday from 9 a.m. until religious service at noon. Survived by husband, Philip A. Gray II, Ponchatoula; daughter, Devan Lea Gray and her significant other, Sean Heaps, Ponchatoula; son, Chase Alan Gray and his wife, Tiffanay, Ponchatoula; mother and step-father, Melba and R. V. Wedgeworth, Texarkana, Texas; sister, Gaylan W. Carter and her husband, Ashley, Texarkana, Texas; brother, David Westerman and his wife, Teresa, Texarkana, Texas; and mother-in-law, Beverly C. Gray, Kentwood. Preceded in death by her father, Walker Lee Westerman; brother, Roger Porier; father-in-law, Philip A. Gray Sr.; and maternal grandparents, Bertha and Louie Emfinger. For an online guestbook, visit www.mckneelys.com. *************************************************************************** N. A. James Funeral Home, Hammond, LA GRAY, LILLIE Lillie Gray, 93, resident of Hammond, LA, passed away Sunday July 7, 2013. Visitation Saturday July 13, 2013 from 9-11am at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church Hammond, LA with Funeral service starting at 11:00am. Interment will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery Hammond, LA, *************************************************************************** Obituary published in The Hammond Vindicator: 5/16/1930 GRAY, MARY FLORENCE Mary Florence Gray, age 5 years and 7 months, died Sunday. Survived by parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Gray; one sister; one brother. *************************************************************************** Obituary published in The Advocate (Baton Rouge): 10/27/2005 GRAY, Mrs. MEDA ANGELE A resident of Amite, she died at 5:05 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2005, at Hood Memorial Hospital in Amite. She was 103 and a native of Hillsdale. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 1 p.m. on Thursday until religious service at 3 p.m., conducted by the Rev. Tom Higginbotham. Interment in Amite Cemetery, Amite. She is survived by three grand- daughters, Dona Jane Kent-Puma, Hammond, Denise Kent Mitchell, Fluker, and Darla Kent Hansen, Sandy, Utah; two grandsons, Donald Kent Jr., Hillsdale, and Duke Randall Kent, Fluker; nine great-grandchildren, Dustin Mitchell, Dane Mitchell, Derek Mitchell, Dek Kent, Kent Mikkelsen, Skye Puma, Barbra Mikkelsen, Kohl Kent and Summer Mikkelsen; and a nephew, Jesse Earl Mixon. She was preceded in death by her husband, L. Herbert Gray; daughter and son-in-law, Barbara Jane Gray Kent and Donnie Kent; parents, Anton and Carter Angele; and two sisters, Lillie Mixon and Jessie Angele. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, Amite. *************************************************************************** Obituary published in The Advocate (Baton Rouge): 6/26/2009 GRAY, PHILIP A. A resident of Kentwood, Philip A. Gray died at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at his home. He was 70 and a native of St. Helena Parish. He is survived by his wife, Beverly Carloss "Toni" Gray, Kentwood; son, Philip A. Gray II and wife Leanna W. Gray, Ponchatoula; two grandchildren, Chase A. Gray and Devan L. Gray; three sisters, Antoinette Willson and husband Donald Willson, and Nancy Birch and husband, Ladell Birch, all of Kentwood, and Peggy Varnado and husband Dr. Jimmie Wayne Varnado, Greensburg; sister-in-law, Kay Gray, Shreveport; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Nettie Phillips Gray; and three brothers, James H. Gray, Huey P. Gray and Leahman P. Gray. Visitation at Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Magnolia, Miss., on Sunday, June 28, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Monday from 8 a.m. until memorial services at 10 a.m., conducted by the Rev. Melanie and the Rev. David Lemburg. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Episcopal Church of Our Redeemer, P.O. Box 1001, McComb, MS 39649 or Community Care Hospice, 1007 W. Thomas St., Suite A, Hammond, LA 70401. Arrangements by McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood. For the online guestbook, visit www.mckneelys.com. *************************************************************************** N. A. James Funeral Home, Hammond, LA GRAY, WILLIE L., JR. (December 15, 1929 - May 16, 2013) Willie L. Gray Jr., 83, resident of Ponchatoula, LA, die May 16, 2013. Funeral service Wednesday May 22, 2013, 1:00pm at N.A. James Funeral Home, Inc. Interment will follow at Ponchatoula Cemetery. *************************************************************************** File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/tangipahoa/obits/obitssur/gray.txt