Elmon Gray

Gray, Elmon Taylor of Richmond, formerly of Waverly, Virginia died Tuesday, September 27, 2011, at the age of 86. He was the son of Garland and Agnes Taylor Gray and was predeceased by his beloved wife of 62 years, Pamela Burnside Gray and by his sister Florence Gray Tullidge . He is survived by his three children, Katharine Taylor Gray, Richmond, VA; Garland Gray II, married to Ann Peery Gillespie Gray, Williamsburg, VA; and Bruce Burnside Gray, Richmond, VA. He is also survived by his sisters, Mary Wingate Gray Stettinius, Richmond, VA, and Agnes Elizabeth Gray Duff, Fredericksburg, VA, stepmother, Frances Bage Gray, Delray Beach, FL, and stepsister, Mary Gray Shockey, Millwood, VA. He had five grandchildren, Dr. Pamela Herbert Minkler, married to Michael Minkler; Charles C. Herbert III, married to Diana Cosma Herbert; Martha Leece Gray; Garland Gray III; and Elmon Taylor Gray II, and two great-grandsons, Mason Robert Minkler and Jameson Gray Minkler all of whom he was very proud. Elmon graduated from Waverly High School in 1942 on the day of the Battle of Midway in World War II. He attended the Virginia Military Institute with his time there interrupted by service in the U.S. Navy. He served in the South Pacific aboard a minesweeper after which he finished his academic work and received his degree from Virginia Military Institute in 1947. Following his graduation, he returned to Waverly and began has lifelong career at his familyâ??s Gray Lumber Company and other related entities, becoming its president in 1953 and serving as chairman of GrayCo at the time of his death. He also served on numerous boards including the Bank of Waverly, James River Bankshares, First & Merchants National Bank, Virginia Electric Power Company, and Universal Leaf Tobacco Company. He had a passionate devotion for charitable fund-raising and helped raise money for various organizations including Boy Scouts of America, VMI, Appomattox Regional Governorâ??s School, Virginia Historical Society, National D-Day Memorial at Bedford, Stuart Hall, and the Southeast 4-H Educational Center. He was very proud to have served in the Senate of Virginia for twenty years having been elected in 1971 to occupy the seat which his father had held for the prior thirty years. He always felt his public service enabled him to learn a lot about people and causes while making new and lasting friends along the way. His beloved wife, Pam, converted him from his Grandmother Grayâ??s Congregational Christian Church to the Christ Episcopal Church in Waverly. He is currently a member of Merchants Hope Episcopal Church. The family would like to thank Ann Igou, Lisa Warren and the wonderful caregivers from Mature Options (Dorothy, Alba, Cheryl, Kelly, Gwen, Hassanutu, and Sherline) and also Norah, Sue, Pat and Vicki from Bon Secours Hospice. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the VMI Foundation, Neikirk Hall, 304 Letcher Avenue, Lexington, VA 24450; Westminster Canterbury Foundation, 1600 Westbrook Avenue, Richmond, VA 23227; Friends of the Waverly Library, P. O. Box 543, Waverly, VA 23890; or Hospice at Bon Secours, 5875 Bremo Road, Suite 710, Richmond, VA 23226. Burial will be private. A memorial service will be held at VMI Chapel, Lexington, Virginia on Tuesday, October 11 at 2:00.