Posted by The Virginian Pilot on 11/16/2007, 6:12 am
71.80.11.17
Luther B. Gray III , Portsmouth
Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007
The Virginian-Pilot
Luther B. "Bernie" Gray III, died peacefully at home Nov. 14, 2007, following a long and courageous battle with colon cancer. He was 54. Bernie was born in Portsmouth to Selene Gray Thomas and the late Luther B. Gray Jr. He graduated from Wilson High School and attended Atlantic Christian College. He completed an Inside Machinist Apprentice program at NNSY in Portsmouth where he was employed for several years before working and retiring from General Foam Plastics Corp. in Norfolk. Bernie was an avid sportsman and lived a life full of good hunting, fishing, singing and picking bluegrass music as well as gospel and contemporary Christian music. He was a member of Sunbeam Hunt Club in Franklin, Va. As a lifelong musician and vocalist, Bernie was a founding member of the "New Dominion Bluegrass" band, and sang in the church choir at Calvary Baptist Church as well as various ensembles at the church among them the ensemble "Barracha." Bernie was a lifelong member of Calvary Baptist Church. A loving husband, father, son, brother and nephew, he is survived by his wife, Janice M. Gray; his mother, Selene Gray Thomas; two sons, Luther B. "Luke" Gray IV and Joseph K. "Joey" Gray; his sisters, Susan G. Newton (Mike) of Chesapeake and Sharon G. Stone (Jerry) of Randleman, N.C.; best friend and hunting brother, Brian Elliott (Christy) of Smithfield; and a special aunt, Geraline Minton. Bernie is survived by numerous nieces, nephews and his mother-in-law, Alfreda McFarland; and sisters and brother-in-law, Christine Allison (Frank), Clyde McFarland (Connie) of Hampton and Peggy Hebert of Suffolk. In addition to his father, Bernie was also predeceased by his stepfather, Edgar L. Thomas. A funeral will be held Friday at 11 a.m. in Calvary Baptist Church, Portsmouth, by the Rev. Dr. Philip J. Parker. A celebration of Bernie’s homecoming will be held immediately after the service in the fellowship hall of the church. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hunters For the Hungry, P.O. Box 304, Big Island, VA 24526 or to K-Love (Christian Music Ministry), 2351 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 170-218, Rocklin, CA 95765. Viewing for Bernie will be available after 2 p.m. today in Snellings Funeral Home, Churchland Chapel. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.snellingsfuneralhome.com.
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