Willie James Gray

Willie James Gray of St. Louis, Missouri passed peacefully at home on December 9, 2023. He was born January 25, 1937, to the union of Albert Gray, Sr. and Eva Key. Willie graduated from Macon Colored High School in Macon, Mississippi. In his younger years, he went by his middle name, James. With sharecropping coming to an end, Willie relocated to Kalamazoo, Michigan with his siblings and worked at a hotel. He later moved his family to St. Louis, Missouri, where he remained until his passing. Willie was baptized at an early age. He was a long-time member of Cathedral at the Crossroads, under the leadership of Pastor Erik Bland; before that, he belonged to Walnut Park Baptist Church. Willie met and married the love of his life, Bessie Mae Stallings, on November 24, 1956, in Macon, Mississippi. They recently celebrated 67 years together. To this union was born five children. His children may not have had everything they wanted, but he made sure his family had everything they needed and more. He raised his children with a loving, but stern hand (belt), and would not hesitate to discipline children in the family or neighborhood. Willie had a passion for cars, particularly Fords. He retired from Ford Motor Company after 39 years of service. He was also an entrepreneur, designing plastic slip covers and re-upholstery on furniture for clients all around the city. Willie was a hardworking blue-collar man, always providing and protecting his family. Willie’s hobbies were fishing and hunting in his younger years, but he also enjoyed watching professional wrestling, football, and baseball, especially the St. Louis Cardinals. He would say, “you got to watch them Cardinals, they will go from sugar to s!@# in a heartbeat.” Willie was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Eva Gray; his oldest son, James Earl Gray; a grandson, James Martez Gray; two brothers, Albert Gray, Jr and Herbert Gray, Sr.; three sisters, Corleen Williams, Margert Stacy and Manassa Darden. Willie leaves behind his loving memory to be cherished by: his wife of 67 years ~ Bessie Mae Gray; three sons ~ Dale Gray (Linda) of Lorton, VA, Lance Gray of St. Louis, MO and Alan J. Gray, Sr. (Rochelle) of St. Louis, MO; daughter ~ Yvonne S. Gray of St. Louis, MO; three sisters-in-law ~ Henretta Stallings of Joliet, IL, Lizzy Stallings of Crawford, MS and Nancy Stallings of Chicago, IL; one daughter-in-law ~ Starla Young-Gray of Atlanta, GA; eight grandchildren ~ DeAndre D. Allen, Julius E. Gray, Needra R. Gray-Flowers, LaKeisha S. Gray Lane, Alan J. Gray, II, Kristopher J. Allen, Nicole D. Gray-Willis and Alana R. Gray Parks; seventeen great grandchildren, one great-great grandson, as well as a host of loving nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Tributes

Willie James Gray

January 25, 1937 - December 9, 2023