MARCH 17 – Leroy Gray was born to the late William and Mamie Gray of Pamplin on September 30, 1926. He departed this life at McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond on Thursday, March 12, 2009.

He is preceded in death by his parents, William and Mamie Gray of Pamplin; brothers, Leslie Gray and Herman Gray of Brooklyn, NY, and Junius Gray of Norfolk; and a sister, Ethel. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Nannie Gray in 2006, and a step-daughter, Marion Marie Davis in 2005.

Surviving is a step-daughter, Lucy A. Garrett (Daniel) of Rio Rancho, New Mexico; brothers, Deacon Waverly Gray (Beatrice) of Pamplin, and John Thomas Gray of New York; 10 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives.

Deacon Leroy Gray served in the military and lived in Brooklyn, NY, for several years. While there he worked as a longshoreman and later as a construction worker doing home repair. In New York, he joined the Berean Baptist Church and was an active member of the Usher Board. Upon returning to Virginia in the 1980's, he gave up his membership at Zion Baptist Church in Pamplin and joined his wife's church, the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church. At Mt. Moriah, he was ordained as a deacon, was elected as the treasurer of the church, served on the Usher Board and served as a church trustee. He was a member of the Sunday School and Bible Study. He loved his church and he loved people. Even while he was on dialysis three days a week and taking care of his wife, he never complained and always did whatever he could for others. Even when cancer slowed him down, he still showed us how to be a Christian.

Deacon Leroy Gray left us a legacy of love and Christian servitude. We will miss him but we can rejoice because we know he is in the presence of God.

A funeral service will be held Thursday, March 19, at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Farmville, with interment in the Zion Baptist Church Cemetery, Pamplin.

Bland-Reid Funeral Home, Farmville, is in charge of the service.