Willie James Gray's Obituary
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.
What’s your fondest memory of Willie?
What’s a lesson you learned from Willie?
Share a story where Willie's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Willie you’ll never forget.
How did Willie make you smile?
