Southampton County-Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Gray, Joseph H., 1931 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ JOSEPH HENRY GRAY J.H. GRAY, HONORED CONFEDERATE SOLDIER AND CITIZEN, PASSES Joseph Henry Gray, for many years a prominent citizen of the Franklin community, and one of the few surviving Confederate veterans of this county, died at his home in Norfolk Sunday morning in his 91st year. Mr. Gray was born in the Indian Woods section of Southampton, and spent most of his life farming near Franklin until moving to Norfolk 12 years ago. For many years he held his membership with High Street M.E. Church here, changing to Park Place Church, Norfolk, when he made his home in that city. A loyal and consistent communicant of that faith, he was constant in attendance at church and Bible class, and was known and esteemed for his integrity in all of the obligations of life. He served throughout the War Between the States with a Southampton command, Pickett’s Division, and was a charter member of Urquhart-Gillette Camp U.C.V. of this county. Mr. Gray was twice married, first to Miss Martha Ann Whitehead, who died in 1918*. The surviving children of this union are: Mrs. W.W. Vaughan, Prescott, Arizona; J.T. Gray, J.L. Gray and Mrs. R.H. Raiford of Norfolk, and Mrs. L.M. Edwards of Franklin. Another son, Wm. Henry Gray, now deceased, left one son, J.H. Gray, Jr., of Sebrell, there being 20 grandchildren and six great- grandchildren. On January 10, 1919, he married Miss Naomi Miller who survives him. Funeral services were held from the Holloman-Brown Funeral Home, Norfolk, Tuesday morning at 11 o’clock, conducted by Rev. H.P. Myers, pastor of Park Place M.E. Church, assisted by Rev. H.P. Clarke of Portsmouth, a former Park Place pastor. The body was brought to Franklin for interment in the family plot in Poplar Spring Cemetery, the burial service being read by the Rev. Dr. Geo. H. Spooner of High Street M.E. Church. The pallbearers were: Cecil Vaughan, 3rd, W.L. Beale, Harry Steinhardt, Jesse Weede, Tyler Edwards and J.W. Beale. *error; she died 28 Jun 1916. see obit, "The Tidewater News" June 30, 1916- http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/g600m1ob.txt - abstract of their marriage record are included in the notes. "Joe" Joseph Henry GRAY, retired farmer & grocery merchant, Confederate veteran, formerly of Franklin, b. 25 Sep 1840, Indian Woods section of Southampton Co., d. 11 Jan 1931, at home, Norfolk, interred in Poplar Spring Cemetery (Annex 2, Plot 15A*), Franklin, 13 Jan 1931, "The Tidewater News" (Franklin, VA), Jan. 16, 1931, p. 1 *Buried with his first wife. Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project, Poplar Spring list: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/psanx2.txt His widow Naomi is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Norfolk. (Find a Grave Mem. #75875444) Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Cemeteries, Forest Lawn list: http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/norfolkcity/cemeteries/forestlawn/flc09-golde-grie.html His D.Cert. (#1778 {Norfolk 67}) gives married, husband of Martha Anne - not mentioning Naomi; sn/o William & Martha; the informant was [son] J.T. Bruce shows his parents James William & Nancy Ann (Bryant) Gray. James Gray & Nancy Bryant m. 23 Jan 1834 (Southampton Co. M.Reg. 445, 697) The family appears in St. Lukes Parish, Southampton Co. in the 1850 Census. (pp. 255b-56b {orig. p. 510-11}) The family appears in W. of the Nottoway R., Southampton Co. in 1860; "Mary" appears in place of Nancy. (p. 7) [It is not clear if James remarried; no record found in Southampton.] Joe & Naomie appear in the 1920 Census in Norfolk; he owned 121 E. 28th St. Joseph & Nomie appear in the 1930 Census in Norfolk; he owned 219 33rd St. Joseph's daughter Anne Dana m. Richard 'Harvey' RAIFORD. (mh) Joseph's bros. William T. & Byrd Sugar GRAY m. sisters Ann & Martha Ann M. BRYANT. Byrd & Martha are buried in a MANRY (GRAY) family cemetery, near Joyner. SCHS Cemetery Project, Miscellaneous Cemteries, Vol. 9 (IX-9): http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/miscvol9.txt William may be buried in a WHITEHEAD family cemetery, just off Hwy. 35. SCHS Cemetery Project, Miscellaneous Cemteries, Vol. 4 (IV-51): http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/miscvol4.txt Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by William J. DelMonte (JazzyBill@aol.com) and Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), and re-formatted by File Manager Matt Harris. file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/g600j5ob.txt