James L. Gray

During the late-night hour at 11:27 p.m. on Thursday, August 26, 2021, God called the Patriarch of the Gray and Holmes families, James Leonard Gray, to his eternal rest.
He was born on September 2, 1938 in Champlain, VA to James and Susie Gray. James, affectionately known as "Jimmy Jr"., “Huckabuck” and “Jimmy-De-Cricket” was born and raised in Champlain, VA. At the age of 9, he was baptized at Antioch Baptist Church in Champlain, VA. He later transferred his membership to New Mount Zion Baptist Church in Caret, VA. While attending New Mount Zion, he was on the Senior Usher Board, served as the Vice-Chairman ofthe Trustee Board, and he sang on the Men's Chorus. Jimmy Jr. received his education at the Champlain Training School before transferring to Essex County Public Schools. At the age of 16, while attending high school, he drove the bus for Essex County. After graduation, he continued to work as a substitute bus driver. It was while driving the bus that he met the love of his life, Margie E. Fortune. In 1957, he started to work for JA Laporte in Northern Virginia. One day while working there he asked himself, “Why am I digging holes when I haven’t lost anything?” Soon after that, he was drafted into the US Army. There he served two years active duty and four years in the Army Reserves. After leaving the military, he was employed at the Bureau of Engraving in Washington, DC. His next employer was the Naval Propellant Plant in Indian Head, MD. From there he moved onto employment at Fort Belvoir Military Base in Virginia. Next, he became a law enforcement officer with the Tappahannock Police Department and the Essex County Sheriff's Department. His final job, before retirement, was at the Naval Surface Weapons Center (NSWC) in Dahlgren, VA. Jimmy Jr lived a life full of public service. In 2020, he was recognized for 23 years of service on the Essex County Planning Commission and 14 years of service on the Essex County Economic Development Authority. It was noted that he helped Essex County be a prosperous and good place to live, work, and play. He was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers: Elwood “Bunny” Gray, Cryetial “Sonny” Gray, John Hinton, and William Hinton. He leaves to cherish his memories a devoted wife of 62 years, Margie E. Gray, Caret, VA; a son, Janon R. Gray (Teri), Greencastle, PA;four brothers, Robert M. Gray, Upper Marlboro, MD; Thomas H. Gray (Sheila), White Plains, MD; Donald Johnson (Junice), Tappahannock, VA; Ronald Johnson (Debbie), Richmond, VA; one aunt, Virginia Miller, Washington, DC; six additional sisters-in-law, Martha Lumpkin, Champlain, VA; Cora Byrd, Newtown, VA; Lois Johnson, Hustle, VA; Gloria Rollins, Tappahannock, VA; Jacquelyn Gray Rose, Fredericksburg, VA, and Judy Hinton, Washington, DC; two Godchildren, India Tracey (Michael [children Desmond and Levi]), Chesterfield, VA and Tamica Powell (children Jaden and Tamia), Richmond, VA, and a host of other nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. Two special childhood friends, Emmett Gardner and James Jackson (Doodle)