George Vernon Gray passed to his eternal home on Monday, August 17, at Southern Care Retirement Home quietly with his family at his bedside. He was a resident of Nashville, GA prior to moving to Tifton in 1996. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 20, 2009, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Burial will follow at Tift Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, August 19, 2009, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
He was born March 29, 1931 to the late George W. and Allie Mathis Gray. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Thomas J. Gray and Ira L. Gray; a niece, Janice Hendley; a nephew, Kenny Pittman; a great-niece, Katie Hendley; and a great-nephew, Travis Pittman.
After graduating from high school, he joined the Navy, served his country faithfully and received multiple medals. Upon his discharge from the Navy, he met and married Mamie Rainey of Adel, who survives him. From this union was born a son and daughter. Steve and his wife, Cindy, live in Loganville. Deena and her husband, Donnie Childers, live in Tifton. Grandchildren are Brittany and Jessica Gray of Loganville, Allison and Hunter Gaskins and Clay Childers of Tifton. His sisters are Annie McNabb, Sarah Hendley (Clifton) of Nashville and Nell Pittman of Fernandina Beach, Florida. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Gray was a faithful servant of his Lord, joining First Baptist Church of Nashville in 1957, teaching Sunday School for over thirty years, participating in the Memorial Choir, was ordained as a Deacon and served many times on the active board. Following his move to Tifton, he moved his membership to the First Baptist Church here, however, due to declining health, he was unable to participate in the church activities. His witnessing was limited to his devout devotion to his reading of the Bible.
Services on Thursday will be conducted by the Rev. Jackie Connell and Jackson Moore. Pallbearers will be nephews, David Hendley, Harry McNabb, Wayne Hendley, Johnny Ross, Billy Pittman and Christian Causey. Honorary pallbeareres will be close friends and family members.
Flowers will be accepted or the family would love for you to just go out and do a kind deed for someone in memory of Vernon.
The family will be at the home of his daughter, Deena and Donnie Childers, 1600 Tyson Avenue in Tifton.