Leonard Wardell Gray

Leonard Wardell Gray, son of Mary M. Gray and the late Robert O.Gray, was born in Champlain, Virginia (Essex County) on December 8, 1952. On Monday, December 1, 2008, our beloved Wardell, as he was affectionately called, entered into peacful rest at his home in Tappahannock, Virginia, following a lengthy illness.

Wardell attended Essex county public schools and served in the Marines for two years.

Wardell joined Antioch Baptist Church at an early age.

He resided in the Washington, DC area for many years. He was employed by the Washington Gas Company for 34 years. During his time of employment there, he was part of the company's softball team (the Homeboys) and he was a die-hard Orioles fan. He retired four years ago and returned to Essex County.

He was preceded in death by his father Robert O.Gray and a brother, James R. Gray Sr.

He leaves to cherish precious memories, a loving and devoted wife of 23 years, Joyce Gray; his mother, Mary M. Gray; two sons, Kurt Gray (Ashley) and Earnest Reese (LaKia); two daughters, Tammy Gray-Lee (Chris) and Twyla Gray; one sister, Frances Pitts of Caroline County; seven brothers: Robert Gray (Muriel), Stanley Gray, Timothy Gray (Nevon), Alfred Gray (Brenda), Keith Gray, Kelvin Gray and, Malcolm Gray (Valerie), all of Champlain, Virginia; eight sisters-in laws: Laura Gray of Tappahannock, Elizabeth Wrenn, Barbara Johnson (Ricky) and, Brenda Jewitt (Nick); one brother-in-law, James Morton (Mary) all of Charlottesville, one son-in-law, two uncles; Leslie Holmes (Evelyn)of Hustle, Va and William Green of Champlain, VA, one aunt, Virginia Miller of Washington DC; two grandsons: Deionje (DJ) and Kurt, Jr; seven granddaughters: Tayondra, Trynity, Acaja, Aurea, Aliyah, Cristelle and Ciera Reese; a host of neices, nephews, other relatives, friends, loving neighbors and a special friend, Roger Leigh of South Boston, Virginia.

Wardell was filled with kindess, goodness, happiness and had a very special place in all of his neices and nephews lives, he always reminded his neices and nephews of this statement, which gained him much respect "I am your Uncle, not your Friend "




Funeral Home:
Cedell Brooks Funeral Home
25662 A.P. Hill Blvd
Port Royal, VA
US 22535