Charles E. Gray

The Lord called his loving son Charles Edward Gray home on Thursday, December 15, 2022 after a gradual decline in health.  Charles was born January 17,1938 to the late Florine Hill Ridley and Charles Gray in Portsmouth, Virginia.  He attended I.C. Norcom High School before enlisting into the U.S. Navy.  

He was funny and kept family and friends laughing with the “things that came out of his mouth.”  He was loving and encouraging but also assertive and never wrong.  He enjoyed watching sports, especially his football team, the San Francisco 49ers. More often than not, you could find him listening to oldie but goodies while meddling with some type of electronic.  Whether it was dismantling, rebuilding, or installing apps on computers and/or televisions. He enjoyed working with his hands.  If there was card game or dominos being played Charles was at the table talking trash and making everyone laugh. He lived, laughed, and loved!

Charles was predeceased by Florine Hill Ridley(mother); Charles Gray (father); Erma Gray (wife); Jerome Gray (son); Darlene James and Kim Williams (daughters); DeAngelo Gray (grandson); Rayquan Gray and Dereontay Collins (great grandsons) and Lawrence “Dick” Hill (brother-in-law).  

He leaves his treasured memories and reminders to enjoy life to his children: Deborah Gray, Darnell Gray, Lorraine Gray, and Leslie Atkins (Duke); brother, Melvin Hill Gray; three sisters, Edith Hill, Jessye Ridley, and Florine Morrison; an aunt Augusta “Auntie” Baines; 17grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren, and 9 great greatgrandchildren.  Charles also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, a special nephew/son, Marvin Faulks and special niece, Regina Faulks to delight in the laughter of his memories.