Rev. Charles E. Gray

Rev. Charles Edward Gray was born to the late Robert and Elizabeth (Lizzie) McKissick Gray, the fifth of seven children, on March 8, 1932, in Jacksonville, Texas. At an early age, he became a Christian, joining Sweet Union Baptist Church.  Rev. Gray attended elementary through high school in Jacksonville, Texas, graduating from Frederick Douglass High School in 1950.  After graduating from high school, he volunteered and proudly served his country as a member of the military in the U.S. Army.  He served in the Korean War and still proudly wore a Korean combat cap.  After the Army, he attended Butler College in Tyler, Texas where he was a member of the football team.

While attending Butler College, he met and married Nadine Gray in 1953.  They settled in Kilgore, Texas; They attended Fredonia Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon, and together, they had three children.  Rev. Gray received his calling to the Gospel Ministry in 1960.  Initially, he pastored New Prospect Baptist Church and New Hope Baptist Church.  He was then called to Pastor Fredonia Baptist Church, Kilgore, Texas ( The Friendly Little Church by the Side of the Road) where he served as the Pastor for Fifty years as well as being a resident of the community. After 38 years of marriage, his wife Nadine preceded him in death.  A few years later, he married Mary Nell Rossum who (preceded him in death) and lived in Longview, Texas. After retirement from active ministry, Rev. Gray united with True Believers Baptist Church in Longview, Texas.  Upon relocating back to Kilgore to live with his daughter, Renee he united with Smith Chapel Baptist Church, Tatum Texas.

Professionally, Rev. Gray was an electrician. He honed his skills as a Journeyman Electrician under the direction of Master Electrician L.M. Delaney, the only black-owned electrical service in East Texas, at that time.  He worked with L.M. Delaney Electrical Services for twenty years.  Rev. Gray concluded his career with the Kilgore Independent School District Maintenance Department, with emphasis as an Electrician.  Rev. Gray also had his own Electrician Service.  He wired houses and businesses across East Texas and even had contracts in Dallas.  Rev. Gray found joy and solace in studying the bible, spending time with his family and friends, traveling, singing, mentoring other Ministers, keeping up with current events, watching Westerns, and working on projects around the house.

Rev. Charles E. Gray was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Gray; Siblings Robert Gray, Verline Earle, Virginia Mayfield, Virie Lee Johnson, Katherine Gray and eldest grandson La’Sanford Gray.  He will forever be remembered in the hearts and minds of his family: his sons, Rev. Bernard Gray (Kilgore); Gayelord Gray and daughter in love, Vanessa Averheart-Gray (Dallas); Daughter, Renee Gray Sanders (Kilgore); and grandchildren, Krystal Sanders (Round Rock), Lauren Gray Lewis (Christopher) (Dallas); Great Grandchildren, Landon Sanders, Aubrey Lewis, Parker Lewis, and Langston Lewis. Siblings: Faye Doris Wilson and Stanley Gray; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and former church members who loved him.

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