May Harris Gray; age 109, of Fort Smith died Tuesday December 27, 2005 in Fort Smith.
She was a member of First Baptist Church in Fort Smith since 1918. She was very active in her Sunday school class, WMU, and choir for many years. She served as president of the Parent-Teachers Association of several schools, Eastwood Garden Club, Sparks Hospital Women's Board, DAR, and Chapter J.P.E.O. Her hobbies include painting, collecting rare coins and antiques. She was the author of eight books of poetry and one of poetry and prose.
She was preceded in death by her husband Thomas Virgil Gray, Sr., and daughter Dorothy Edwards.
May Gray was born in Canton, Kentucky and was educated in Kentucky, Illinois and Louisiana. After receiving a teacher's certificate she taught school and music in Louisiana before her marriage to Thomas Virgil Gray, Sr. (deceased).They had three children; Jean Peer, Dorothy Edwards (deceased) and Thomas Virgil Gray, Jr.
From early years she has loved, read, memorized, studied, and written poetry. She is a Life Member of the Poetry Society of America, a member of the National leagues of American Pen Women, The Kentucky State Poetry Society, and the Poets? Roundtable of Arkansas. She was co-founder, with Eloise Barksdale of the Fort Smith Branch, the first of nine branches of the Poets' Roundtable of Arkansas. This organization named her "Poet of the Present" and presented her the C. C. Allard Cup as "Poet of the Year".
May Grays' numerous awards include "The Book Award" sponsored by the National league of American pen Women, The Poetry Society of America "Dylan Thomas Award", and "The Grand Prix" sponsored by the Kentucky State Poetry Society.
The Poetry of May Gray has been published in magazine, literary quarterlies, church literature, newspapers and anthologies: "Our Christian Home and Family? published by Harper and Row, "Kentucky in American Letters", "Poets of the Midwest", and the "Poets' Roundtable", among others. She has judged poems for state competitions in several states. Mrs. Gray is listed in Marquis "Who's Who of American Women", Arkansas Lives', and "Who's Who in Poetry, England".
Graveside services were Friday, December 30th at Forest Park Cemetery. Memorial service was Friday December 30th, 2005 at First Baptist Church in Fort Smith under the direction of Fentress Mortuary.
She was survived by one daughter Jean Peer of Van Buren; one son Tom Gray, Jr. and his wife Rita of Fort Smith. Eleven grandchildren Joe Edwards Jr., Tom Edwards, John Edwards, Steven Peer, Charles Peer, Glenn Peer, Robert Cates, Rodney Cates, Rhonda Voydat, Randy Cates and Ronald Cates, 27 great grandchildren and 18 great great grandchildren.
Note: According to her 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 US Census entries as well as her 1920 marriage record, she was actually one year older than claimed and was thus born in September 1895 and thus 110 years old instead of 109 years old at the time of her death:
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/93JX-D33
She was a member of First Baptist Church in Fort Smith since 1918. She was very active in her Sunday school class, WMU, and choir for many years. She served as president of the Parent-Teachers Association of several schools, Eastwood Garden Club, Sparks Hospital Women's Board, DAR, and Chapter J.P.E.O. Her hobbies include painting, collecting rare coins and antiques. She was the author of eight books of poetry and one of poetry and prose.
She was preceded in death by her husband Thomas Virgil Gray, Sr., and daughter Dorothy Edwards.
May Gray was born in Canton, Kentucky and was educated in Kentucky, Illinois and Louisiana. After receiving a teacher's certificate she taught school and music in Louisiana before her marriage to Thomas Virgil Gray, Sr. (deceased).They had three children; Jean Peer, Dorothy Edwards (deceased) and Thomas Virgil Gray, Jr.
From early years she has loved, read, memorized, studied, and written poetry. She is a Life Member of the Poetry Society of America, a member of the National leagues of American Pen Women, The Kentucky State Poetry Society, and the Poets? Roundtable of Arkansas. She was co-founder, with Eloise Barksdale of the Fort Smith Branch, the first of nine branches of the Poets' Roundtable of Arkansas. This organization named her "Poet of the Present" and presented her the C. C. Allard Cup as "Poet of the Year".
May Grays' numerous awards include "The Book Award" sponsored by the National league of American pen Women, The Poetry Society of America "Dylan Thomas Award", and "The Grand Prix" sponsored by the Kentucky State Poetry Society.
The Poetry of May Gray has been published in magazine, literary quarterlies, church literature, newspapers and anthologies: "Our Christian Home and Family? published by Harper and Row, "Kentucky in American Letters", "Poets of the Midwest", and the "Poets' Roundtable", among others. She has judged poems for state competitions in several states. Mrs. Gray is listed in Marquis "Who's Who of American Women", Arkansas Lives', and "Who's Who in Poetry, England".
Graveside services were Friday, December 30th at Forest Park Cemetery. Memorial service was Friday December 30th, 2005 at First Baptist Church in Fort Smith under the direction of Fentress Mortuary.
She was survived by one daughter Jean Peer of Van Buren; one son Tom Gray, Jr. and his wife Rita of Fort Smith. Eleven grandchildren Joe Edwards Jr., Tom Edwards, John Edwards, Steven Peer, Charles Peer, Glenn Peer, Robert Cates, Rodney Cates, Rhonda Voydat, Randy Cates and Ronald Cates, 27 great grandchildren and 18 great great grandchildren.
Note: According to her 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 US Census entries as well as her 1920 marriage record, she was actually one year older than claimed and was thus born in September 1895 and thus 110 years old instead of 109 years old at the time of her death:
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/93JX-D33
May Harris Gray; age 109, of Fort Smith died Tuesday December 27, 2005 in Fort Smith.
She was a member of First Baptist Church in Fort Smith since 1918. She was very active in her Sunday school class, WMU, and choir for many years. She served as president of the Parent-Teachers Association of several schools, Eastwood Garden Club, Sparks Hospital Women's Board, DAR, and Chapter J.P.E.O. Her hobbies include painting, collecting rare coins and antiques. She was the author of eight books of poetry and one of poetry and prose.
She was preceded in death by her husband Thomas Virgil Gray, Sr., and daughter Dorothy Edwards.
May Gray was born in Canton, Kentucky and was educated in Kentucky, Illinois and Louisiana. After receiving a teacher's certificate she taught school and music in Louisiana before her marriage to Thomas Virgil Gray, Sr. (deceased).They had three children; Jean Peer, Dorothy Edwards (deceased) and Thomas Virgil Gray, Jr.
From early years she has loved, read, memorized, studied, and written poetry. She is a Life Member of the Poetry Society of America, a member of the National leagues of American Pen Women, The Kentucky State Poetry Society, and the Poets? Roundtable of Arkansas. She was co-founder, with Eloise Barksdale of the Fort Smith Branch, the first of nine branches of the Poets' Roundtable of Arkansas. This organization named her "Poet of the Present" and presented her the C. C. Allard Cup as "Poet of the Year".
May Grays' numerous awards include "The Book Award" sponsored by the National league of American pen Women, The Poetry Society of America "Dylan Thomas Award", and "The Grand Prix" sponsored by the Kentucky State Poetry Society.
The Poetry of May Gray has been published in magazine, literary quarterlies, church literature, newspapers and anthologies: "Our Christian Home and Family? published by Harper and Row, "Kentucky in American Letters", "Poets of the Midwest", and the "Poets' Roundtable", among others. She has judged poems for state competitions in several states. Mrs. Gray is listed in Marquis "Who's Who of American Women", Arkansas Lives', and "Who's Who in Poetry, England".
Graveside services were Friday, December 30th at Forest Park Cemetery. Memorial service was Friday December 30th, 2005 at First Baptist Church in Fort Smith under the direction of Fentress Mortuary.
She was survived by one daughter Jean Peer of Van Buren; one son Tom Gray, Jr. and his wife Rita of Fort Smith. Eleven grandchildren Joe Edwards Jr., Tom Edwards, John Edwards, Steven Peer, Charles Peer, Glenn Peer, Robert Cates, Rodney Cates, Rhonda Voydat, Randy Cates and Ronald Cates, 27 great grandchildren and 18 great great grandchildren.
Note: According to her 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 US Census entries as well as her 1920 marriage record, she was actually one year older than claimed and was thus born in September 1895 and thus 110 years old instead of 109 years old at the time of her death:
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/93JX-D33
She was a member of First Baptist Church in Fort Smith since 1918. She was very active in her Sunday school class, WMU, and choir for many years. She served as president of the Parent-Teachers Association of several schools, Eastwood Garden Club, Sparks Hospital Women's Board, DAR, and Chapter J.P.E.O. Her hobbies include painting, collecting rare coins and antiques. She was the author of eight books of poetry and one of poetry and prose.
She was preceded in death by her husband Thomas Virgil Gray, Sr., and daughter Dorothy Edwards.
May Gray was born in Canton, Kentucky and was educated in Kentucky, Illinois and Louisiana. After receiving a teacher's certificate she taught school and music in Louisiana before her marriage to Thomas Virgil Gray, Sr. (deceased).They had three children; Jean Peer, Dorothy Edwards (deceased) and Thomas Virgil Gray, Jr.
From early years she has loved, read, memorized, studied, and written poetry. She is a Life Member of the Poetry Society of America, a member of the National leagues of American Pen Women, The Kentucky State Poetry Society, and the Poets? Roundtable of Arkansas. She was co-founder, with Eloise Barksdale of the Fort Smith Branch, the first of nine branches of the Poets' Roundtable of Arkansas. This organization named her "Poet of the Present" and presented her the C. C. Allard Cup as "Poet of the Year".
May Grays' numerous awards include "The Book Award" sponsored by the National league of American pen Women, The Poetry Society of America "Dylan Thomas Award", and "The Grand Prix" sponsored by the Kentucky State Poetry Society.
The Poetry of May Gray has been published in magazine, literary quarterlies, church literature, newspapers and anthologies: "Our Christian Home and Family? published by Harper and Row, "Kentucky in American Letters", "Poets of the Midwest", and the "Poets' Roundtable", among others. She has judged poems for state competitions in several states. Mrs. Gray is listed in Marquis "Who's Who of American Women", Arkansas Lives', and "Who's Who in Poetry, England".
Graveside services were Friday, December 30th at Forest Park Cemetery. Memorial service was Friday December 30th, 2005 at First Baptist Church in Fort Smith under the direction of Fentress Mortuary.
She was survived by one daughter Jean Peer of Van Buren; one son Tom Gray, Jr. and his wife Rita of Fort Smith. Eleven grandchildren Joe Edwards Jr., Tom Edwards, John Edwards, Steven Peer, Charles Peer, Glenn Peer, Robert Cates, Rodney Cates, Rhonda Voydat, Randy Cates and Ronald Cates, 27 great grandchildren and 18 great great grandchildren.
Note: According to her 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 US Census entries as well as her 1920 marriage record, she was actually one year older than claimed and was thus born in September 1895 and thus 110 years old instead of 109 years old at the time of her death:
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/93JX-D33
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