Brown Gray

SERVICES:  TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 201111:00 A. M.MCCLAIN-HAYS CHAPELVISITATION:  MONDAY, MARCH 21, 20115:00 - 8:00 P. M.INTERMENT:  COY METHODIST CEMETERYPRESTON, MSOFFICIATING:  REV. KENNETH OWENREV. CLAUDE FLEMING Mr. Gray, 86, died Sunday, March 20, 2011 at Neshoba County General Hospital.   He was a native of the Forestdale Community of Neshoba County and a longtime resident of Philadelphia.  He was retired owner of Gray's Welding and Machine Shop.  Mr. Gray was a member of College Park United Methodist Church.  He was a member of Coffadeliah Masonic Lodge and a member of the Neshoba County Shrine Club.  He served as a marine during WWII and was a member of the American Legion.   Mr. Gray was preceded in death by his wife, Willie J. Gray; grandson, Douglas Coats; parents, Melvin and Sally Bates and Rube, Sarah and Delina Gray; brothers, Bob Gray, Ervin Gray, Clint Gray, Levi (Shine) Gray, Norman Paxton, J.C. Bates, and Sam Marshall; and sisters, Ida George, Frances Strong, Gladys Bates, and Hazel Marshall.   Survivors include his daughter, Gail Coats and her husband, Norman of Philadelphia; son, Willard Gray and his wife, Elaine of Cypress, TX; grandchildren, Leigh Ann Teer of Brandon, Jeff Gray and his wife, Becky of Seabrook, TX, and Jacob Gray of Cypress, TX; great-grandchildren, Madison McGee, Ethan Teer, and Phoebe Gray; sisters, Glad Stokes of Columbus, GA, Hazel Prather of Hattiesburg, and Pearl Barker of Meridian; and special friend, Mary Kynerd of Meridian and her family.