J.C. Gray, Sr.

J.C. Gray, Sr., 84, retired maintenance supervisor for Occidental Chemical Company, died Friday March 8, 2019 in Columbia. Funeral services for Mr. Gray will be conducted Tuesday at 11:00 A.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Mike Roberts and Rev. Steve Robertson officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will visit with friends on Monday from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Born September 10, 1934, he was the son of the late Ulna Gray and Maggie Dial Gray. Mr. Gray was in the Army. He was in Baumholder, Germany, and was there with Elvis Presley.  After retiring from Occidental Chemical Company, Mr. Gray worked for the Maury County Board of Education for 20 years. On July 3, 1959, he married Thruzle Fay Sullivan Gray whom preceded him in death on June 10, 2009.  Mr. Gray loved to fish, going to the beach, camping, dinner theatres, watching Nascar, and dancing. He was very active at the First Church of the Nazarene. He was of the Baptist faith. Survivors include his daughter, Brenda (Jimmy) Haywood of Mt. Pleasant; son, Terry (Tonda) Gray of Scottsboro, AL; sister, Louise (Bobby) Young, Judy Gray, Debbie (Joe) Wiley all of Columbia; brother, Sam (Rhonda) Gray of Leander, TX; grandchildren, Amber (Kelvin) Davis of Lafayette, Elissa (Brandon) Shelton of Scottsboro, AL, Jayda (Chris) Couch of Boulder, CO, Wesley (Stephanie) Andrews of Columbia; great grandchildren Cheyenne Davis, Sierra Davis, Skylar Davis, Arya Andrews, Baelyn Andrews, Adelynn Richey, Noah Shelton; great great grandchild, Graylynne Faith Gregory; step grandchildren, Josh (Nanna) Haywood of Orange County, CA., Amy Haywood of Lebanon; step great grandchildren, Aiden Haywood, Sophie Haywood, Taylor Pray, Tyler Pray, Landon Sluder,; daughter in law, Carol Gray; several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death by, sons, J.C. “Jay” Gray, Jr., Randy Gray; grandson, Jarrett Gray. Pallbearers will be Wes Andrews, Chris Couch, Ricky Haskins, Johnny Wilson, Kevin Davis, Ricky Waters, and Joe Wiley. Special thanks to Dr. Cummings Couch and Staff at NHC Maury Regional.