Darlene Ardell Gray

Gray, Darlene Ardell, 92, of Raleigh, NC died on October 26, 2023 at Duke Raleigh Hospital Raleigh, NC. She was born on June 23, 1931 in Flint, Michigan to Elbert Jefferson McElroy and Minnie Marie McElroy. She married Louie R.Gray on December 7, 1988 who preceded her in death.

Surviving their beloved mother are Mark Angelo (Donna) Campi and Perry Vincent (Pamela) Campi. Her daughter, Gina Maria (Marc) Reisinger, preceded her in death. She is also survived by six grandchildren (Talia Hawley (Reisinger), Eric Reisinger, Angela McMahon (Campi), Rebecca Groden (Campi), Daniel Campi, and Andrew Campi), and nine great grandchildren (Bella Hawley, Lola Hawley, CJ Hawley, Olivia Reisinger, Margot Reisinger, Jordyn Campi, Finley McMahon, Harrison McMahon, and Harper Groden).

Darlene was a Christian who loved God and Jesus. She was constantly reading her daily devotions, watching preaching on TV, listening to praise hymns (especially Alan Jackson), and attending church when she was able. She loved Sundays, and always dressed in her Sunday Best when going to church.

Darlene was a longtime resident of Florida, living in St. Petersburg, Hudson, Hernando, and Ocala before moving to Raleigh in 2010. She worked as a nurse and as a real estate professional. One of her favorite nursing stories was how she orchestrated Perry and Pam meeting in St. Petersburg General Hospital when her mother (Perry's grandmother) and Pam's grandmother shared a hospital room. Perry and Pam have been married forty-five years and were blessed to have Darlene live near them for the past thirteen years.

Darlene had the nickname "Spark Plug" because of her bright red hair and her endless energy. She used this energy to help anyone she saw in need, regardless of her own circumstances. She was truly an "angel is disguise" to countless people throughout the years.

One of Darlene's favorite pursuits in life was cooking, and she enjoyed making some of the best meals ever tasted here on earth. As Lou often said, "Her meals were so good they would make you swallow your tongue!" She also enjoyed shopping for bargains, and she could stretch a dollar a mile wide!

Darlene loved watching and feeding the many animals that lived around her. She had names for every deer, bunny and bird that she saw. This love, however, did not extend to the squirrels. She has probably already had a serious discussion with God as to why He created them.

While she loved her life in Florida, she said life in Raleigh was the best because she was near to family and it was close to living in the mountains. She enjoyed the view from her second floor balcony, overlooking the trees. She loved the spring, when all the flowers were blooming. She was especially fond of hydrangeas, gardenias, and roses.

Friends and Family were invited to A Celebration of Life Service from 2:00 - 3:00 pm ( Which you can view from this link https://www.youtube.com/@MitchellFuneralHomeatRMP ) at Mitchell Funeral Home.

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