Celebration Of Life Photos

Top photo going from top to bottom; (1) Sheryl and Aubrea Gray (2) Robert Gray and Clifford Hall. (3) Evan & Asia Johnson grandchildren of Ida M. Johnson. (4) Harriett Gray & Ella Turner-Gray; Ella is wife of Bill Gray, Gilbert and Alice's Eldest son. (5) Grand children of Gil and Alice's youngest son Robert Gray (5) (right to left) Robert Gray jr., Cheyenne Laupua-Gray, (middle) Tee & Robert Gray, (left) Tiawo Gray Eldest son of Robert. (6) top; Aubrey Gray jr. (left) sister Aubrea Gray, (Aubrey Grays children (right) Cameron Gray, (Jim Gray's son. (7) Top;(father & daughter) Uilani and Robert Gray, (sitting at table) Tee Gray and mother. (8) Jim Gray's youngest son; Jai Gray

Charles E. Gray
1942-2010


A Gentle Giant


Standing as tall as towers rise
A big hearted high spirited man
With his blue overalls in tacked,
A white chariot for trucking long the way
Charles was the gentle giant of his time
From the house, to the neighboring hoods,
to the steeple.
The steward of Santa Rosa’s everyday peoples
Yes, he was a gentle giant
He had a smile that could light up the darkest of days
Something that compared to none

This “Gentle Giant”
This man, who graced us all, meant something to everyone.
Now the time has come to for him to move on
Leaving us with euphoric memories

Till glory then, now you’re going home again

May God keep you
For you were a Giant among men
God speed then Charlie
You Sweet, Sweet man.

~Niece: Kristi Gray.

© 2010-06-30 KG

Charlie’s Roots
Parents: Gilbert Paul Gray and Alice Lee Hall

Great Grandparents: Silas Gray and Belle Gray; Isabelle Jackson (Grandma Tom)

Grandparents: Ernest Gray and Rosabell Ray; Charlie Hall and Nettie Smith

Gray Aunts and Uncles: Juanita Cobb; Lola Bell Hendricks, Almeda Stubblefield, Ernestine Smith Jordon, Willis Napoleon Gray,

Hall Aunts and Uncles: Mabel Daniels; Charlie Mae Mann, Vernus Portly, Willie C. Hall, Ophelia Steigers, Roy, Ernest and Estelle Price.

Sisters and Brothers: Ann Gray Byrd, Dorothy Woodard, Ida M. Johnson, William R. Gray, James E. Gray, Curley Gray (d), Aubrey Gray and Robert A. Gray.

Nephews: Curtis Byrd, Phillip Gray, Leo Woodard Jr., Clifford Douglas Woodard, Sidney Gilbert Woodard, Lloyd Johnson, Jr., Ekwenzi Gray, Cameron Gray, Jai Gray, Aubrey Terrel Gray, Taiwo Gray, Chey Gray, Daniel Gray, Robert Gray, Allen Gray; Nifai Laupua; and Bon Laupua.

Nieces: Pamela Grandy, Alicia Gray, Denise Woodard, Machelle DeNay Grover, Nekesha Gray, Aubreia Gray, Uilani Gray, Kristie Gray, Tanya Gray (d)

Great Nieces and Nephews: William Basie Daye III, Elizabeth Ann Daye, Joseph Leonard Lopes, William Hassan Woodard, Toshiana Woodard, Alexander Leo Woodard, Paolo Mikal Woodard, Grace Donna Alice Woodard, Evan Johnson, Aja Johnson, Whitney Gray-Arrasmith, Jasmine Hopkins, Chanece Uboldi; Tanyonika Scott, Alaiyah Gray; Taiwo Gray Jr.; Eric Gray, Pualani Gray, Kavika Gray, Daniel Gray Jr., Lailani Gray, Eva Gray, Cheynikka Laupua.

Great-Great Nieces and Nephews: Lillian Alice McCoy, Joseph Leonard Lopes, Jr., Tea Kalinda Alea Lopes, Graciana Kolokea Lope, Jovante Lopes.

With Sincere Appreciation
. . . we wish to acknowledge the generous outpouring of sympathy and warm consolations received from so many of you, both written and spoken.

Your love lifts our hearts and we are encouraged to move through this time.
We seek and need your continuing good wishes and prayers.
God Bless and keep YOU.
Please join us for food and beverage.

The Family of Charles E. Gray

Memorials:
The Gray Foundation
2077 Canover Court
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

The Celebration of Life for Charles E. Gray

Some words from Grandma Nettie

AS I REMEMBER IT
by Nettie Dye


I was born January 19, 1900 to Mr. Pat Smith and Mrs. Willie Brown Smith in Louisiana. My grandparents are Tom Smith and Cornelius Boone. They had seven children - Pat, Alex, George, Richard, Rose, Gussie and Sid.

My father, Pat Smith was born in Stone Wall La. He was the oldest of seven children. He was killed by a train when I was six years old.

When my father died Uncle Pat bought us to Texas. We stayed in New Hope about a year and moved to Tatum Texas.

My mother Willie Brown Smith came from La. her parents are Alice and Georgie. She passed away in 1929 in Henderson, Texas. She was buried in Watts Hill Cemetery now known as Tatum, Texas.

My husband was Charlie Hall his parents were Adam Hall and Isabelle Jackson (Grandma Tom). Charlie was born and reared in Rusk County. His parents had four children - Sherman, Nettie, Dora, Charlie and Aral. Mrs. Aral Wallace of Dallas, Texas is the only one living.

Charlie and I married when I was only fourteen and he 19. We were married in Watts Hill by Post Master Harvis Butt in 1913. We had six girls - Isabelle (deceased), Alice, Mae Bell, Ophelia, Mae and Vurnes, and one son Willie C. (deceased).

Charlie died of a heart attack at the Gladney Place in 1942.

After my husband died we stayed on the Gladney Place for about a year. In 1943, we moved to Longview, Texas on 1515 Booker Street. I have lived at this location about 41 years.

Excerpt from 1984 Hall Reunion Program
Lubbock, Texas