John Richard Gray Sr.

Published 3:44 pm Monday, May 5, 2025

A celebration of life will be held for John Richard Gray Sr. at 12 p.m., Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at First Baptist Church of Brookhaven with burial at Riverwood Memorial Park. Visitation will start at 10 a.m. until the time of service.

Mr. John Richard Gray Sr., 87, of Brookhaven, passed away May 4, 2025, at King’s Daughters Medical Center. He was born in Pelahatchie, MS, September 9, 1937, to Gladney G. Gray and Nannie Mae Wade Gray.

Mr. Gray was an avid golfer and fisherman. The lives he touched are too many to number or name. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Brookhaven and served as a deacon for many years.

Mr. Gray retired from Brookhaven Academy as Headmaster after 26 years of outstanding leadership and service. He also served as Headmaster at Adams County Christian School for five years and was a teacher and coach at Enterprise Attendance Center, Centerville Academy, Puckett High School, Utica High School, McCluer Academy, Okalona High School, and Beaumont High School. Throughout his years, he was inducted into the MAIS Hall of Fame, Hinds Community College Athletic Hall of Fame, Mississippi Community College Athletic Hall of Fame, and Mississippi College Athletic Hall of Fame.

He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Barbara Gray Measells; brother, Harvey Dean Gray; and nephew, Larry Gray.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 67 years, Alice Marie Allen Gray; sons, Ricky Gray (Gail) and Barry Gray (Lindy); sister in law, Mary Winstead Gray; 4 grandchildren, Alan Noble Gray, Alexander Barrett Gray (Abby), John Sandifer Gray (Lauren), and Mary Katherine Gray; one great-grandchild, Barrett Allen Gray; and two nieces, Brenda Gray Dodson (Larry) and Cheryl Gray Curtis.

The family would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Cole Hodges and the staff at King’s Daughters Medical Center, Silver Cross Health and Rehab, Hospice Compassus, and Craig Crozier.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church building fund.

Condolences and other information are available online at www.riverwoodfamily.com.