Carrie Gray

Carrie Thompson Gray was born October 16, 1927 to the late Mary Mitchell Edwards and Charlie Thompson in Gainesville, Alabama. She was the second child of twelve children. Five preceded her in death, Eva Mae Edwards, Lillian Belle, Eddie Edwards, Johnnie Edwards and Alice Murray. She departed this life at Riverside Hospital in Riverside, California on Monday, March 1, 2010. She attended George Washington Carver Elementary School and Dunbar High School of Bessemer. She united in holy matrimony to the late James Gray Sr., of Bessemer. To this union ten children were born, Geraldine (Carolyn), Rosemary, Nancy, James Jr., Olivia, Derrick and Rickey, Sharon, Yvonne. Her son Donald preceded her in death. Carrie confessed Christ at an early age and joined the Second Avenue Beulah Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Reverend R.T. Thomas. She worshipped faithfully until her health began to fail. She retired from Vestavia School System. Shopping and decorating were the two things she really loved to do. She loved her children, siblings, family and friends. Carrie lived her life to the fullest. So, can't you hear her say: "I am tired now, so let me rest - Don't cry Don't you know God knows best? Please, no sad hearts, no hung down heads Don't weep for me, for I am not dead I have another house, you know Where only God's redeemed can go I do not need this house of clay So, tenderly, carefully, lay it away". She leaves to cherish her memories nine children, Geraldine (Carolyn) Jackson, Nancy Howard, Derrick Gray, Rickey Gray all of Los Angeles, California, Yvonne Gray of Fontana, California, James Gray Jr., Rosemary Minter, Sharon Gray and Olivia Tinker (Charles) of Bessemer, Alabama; her siblings, Rose Bowden, Tommie McCarroll (Lee Andrew), Willie Edwards (Vera), Robert Edwards, Jessie Huff, Maggie Edwards and Wellington Mitchell (Fannie); four brothers-in-law, Herman Gray (Mary), Willie Howard Gray, Eugene Gray (Mary) and Frank Belle (Ethel); twenty grandchildren, thirty-seven great grandchildren, seven great great grandchildren; and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews