Official Obituary of
James Edward Gray
August 21, 1925 ~ May 15, 2022 (age 96) 96 Years Old
James Gray Obituary
Mr. James Jim Edward Gray was born on August 21, 1925, in Blythewood, South Carolina.
He was the son of the late William Bozie and Dorothy L. Outen Gray. Mr. Gray passed on May
15, 2022, at his home.
Mr. Gray was married to the late Mary Whitaker Gray. They were married for 59 years
before her death on January 25, 2008. He was an ordained Deacon and loved studying scriptures.
He outlived all his brothers, aunts and uncles, and one daughter (Andrena).
He served his country with distinction in the United States army as a sergeant from 1943 to
1946 during World War II in France, Germany, Wales, and Belgium and received the Bronze Star.
Upon his return to the Midlands, Mr. Gray attended Patterson Barber College from 1946 to
1947 and the GI Agriculture School at Bethel High School from 1948 to 1952.
He worked at Moncrief Army Hospital at Fort Jackson from 1952 to 1980, where he worked
as a shop steward and cook leader, and supervisor and he retired with thirty-one years of federal
service. He also was a part time farmer growing crops and livestock.
Mr. Gray served as the steward of Free Hope African Methodist Episcopal Church in
Blythewood from 1952 to 1960 and was ordained as deacon at Blythewood’s Round Top Baptist
Church in 1969. He was a member of the Fairfield County Baptist Association from 1963 to 1985,
and he is a 32 Degree Mason with the Free Will Lodge of the York Rite.
He coached Little League baseball at Fort Jackson and sandlot baseball in the Killian and
Greenview communities. He also served as the Scout leader for Cub Scout Explorers at Free Hope
Independent Church in Killian.
During the integration of Richland County School District Two Schools, Mr. Gray served
on the Title 1 Advisory Committee from 1970 to 1974 and the school board Advisory Committee
for 1976 to 1982.
He founded the Killian Community Club served as its president for 10 years. Mr. Gray was
instrument in establishing Killian Park in Blythewood which has served the public since 1970. He
was honored by the Richland County Recreation Commission for his leadership by hanging his
portrait at Killian Park.
In 1984, he became a charter member of the Senior Catering, Inc. in Little Mountain, which
provides meals statewide to the elderly and underprivileged. He continued to serve on its board.
Mr. Gray served on the Title XX Aging Committee of the Central Midlands Regional
Planning Council from 1976 to 1986 and on the South Carolina Commission on Aging Advisory
Committee from 1980 to 1986. He served as a poll manager for Killian precinct from 1993 to
2008.
Although he could not participate in any visible political activity due to the Federal Hatch
Act, he was involved actively in the civil rights movement and worked closed with his brother-inlaw, the late Reverend CJ Whitaker.
Left to cherish his memories are his daughter Frances Young, his sons, Willian (Willeene)
, John (Henrietta) and Edward (Debra) Gray. Goddaughter Sandra (Steve) Wilkerson, Special
Friend Rody Egister, Special Friend Nephew Samuel young, and Special Cousin Bettie Cannon:
grandchildren: Talisa (Jose) Banda, Taquana (Eric) Hogan, Tameka Gray, Jamaal and Kyle Gray,
Carl (Tiffany) Young, Cyerra Young, Thomas (Teresa) Gray, and Leon Bolar JR. and Son in Law
Tony Hucks. Great grands: Treyvares, Jahmil, Keirin, Kirkland, Eric II, Tristpn, Meygan, Aniya,
Shyann, Jaja. And a host of nieces, nephews and other living relatives and friends who will miss
him.
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