Virgil Gray

Virgil Gray was born on June 17, 1936, in Rusk County to James Albert and Lillie Mae Simon Gray. He passed away on April 4, 2024. He was a graduate of Mt. Grove High School in Rusk County. He went on to receive a bachelor's degree in education from Texas College in Tyler, Texas. Virgil then went on to serve four years in the United States Army. After his time in the service, he moved to Gardenia, California, married Ola Lewis (deceased) and started a family. To that union, three children were born: Sabrina Ward, Virgil Gray Jr., and Orlando Gray. He retired from Bullock’s/Macy’s after twenty-seven years as a warehouse supervisor.

On June 25,1988, he married Novella Beavers Gray. He moved to Houston, Texas and worked another ten years as a dispatcher for the Houston ISD maintenance department.

Virgil enjoyed gardening and local sports. He joined Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church in 1996 where he served as an usher until his health failed.

Virgil Gray was preceded in death by his loving parents and three brothers: Cleophus, Walter, and Warren Gray.

He leaves to mourn, his wife Novella Gray, six children; Sabrina Ward (Lancaster, California); Thelma (deceased) and Virgil Gray Jr. (Gardenia, California); Dana and Orlando Gray (Orange County, California); Jeffery Chandler (Houston, Texas); June and Dallas Cormier (Houston, Texas); and Joel Chandler (Nashville, Tennessee). Affectionately known as Pop, his fourteen grandchildren and forty-six great grandchildren will surely miss him along with a host of nieces, nephews and cousins who loved him.