JoAnn Gray

JoAnn Gray, 69 of Rainbow City, passed away Tuesday, January 20, 2015. Graveside services will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 22, 2015 at Rainbow Memorial Gardens with Rev. Carrie Jones and Rev. Larry Fuhrman will officiate. Collier-Butler Funeral and Cremation Services is directing.

Mrs. Gray was born January 18, 1946 to Sam and Cammie Coker in Cherokee County. She graduated from Southside High School in 1964. She became a Phlebotomist and went to work at the Holy Name of Jesus Hospital. She worked for L.B. Chemical Company and retired from Mutual Savings Life Insurance Company after 25 years. She met and married the love of her life, Allen W. Gray in December 1970. They remained partners in life for 39 years, until Allen passed away. They had four beautiful kids and 9 wonderful grandchildren, whom she cherished dearly. She was a member of Southside United Methodist Church. Mrs. Gray loved nothing better than to see her hummingbirds flying around her front porch.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Allen W. Gray; father, Sam Wilson Coker; mother Cammie Benefield Coker; and siblings, Glenn Benefield, Wallace Coker, Liz Hester, and sister-in-law Barbara Gray Scales.

She is survived by her children, Paige (Garry) Mintz, Amy (Ronald) Dillard, Brooke (Bruce) Copeland, and Shane (Lindsey) Gray; grandchildren, Morgan, Madison and Jakeb Mintz, Koby Dillard, Zoe. Alyssa and Wyatt Copeland, Molly and Emma Gray and Skyler and Jaython Novak; siblings, Zoe Coker, Jackie (Sue) Coker, Bobby (Patsy) Coker, Pauline (Ken) Lee, Georgia Coker Oates, Sharon Fincher Coker, Mary (Bill) Noah, Butch Coker, Kenneth (Judy) Coker, and Larry (Peggy) Coker; in-laws, Donald Scales, Brenda Gray, Renee (Michael) Yates, and Cindy (Michael) Smedley; numerous nieces and nephews; and special friend, Sherry Waddell.

Pallbearers will be nephews.

Special thanks to Dr. Chris Vaklavas and staff; Dr. Jason Ayers and staff; Alacare Hospice; Southside Methodist Church; and to the family members that surrounded her with love during this time.

The family will accept friends Wednesday, 1/21/2015 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Graveside services will be Thursday, 1/22/2015, at Rainbow Memorial Gardens.

Online condolences may be made at www.collier-butler.com.