Lavonia - On the 23rd of November, 2003, James W. Gray died at his home on Vickery Street in Lavonia, Georgia. Age 74, he was born on December 17, 1928 in Anderson, South Carolina to the late Thomas Samuel Gray and Birdie Owen Gray. He was the oldest of two brothers and five sisters.Known as 'Pop,' he was beloved by his six grandsons and one granddaughter. A man much respected, he leaves behind his three children, one daughter-in-law, two sons-in-law and his wife of 54 years, Nellie Virginia McGaha Gray. 'Pop Gray' will be remembered as a man who dedicated his life to taking care of the needs of the family. A humble and quiet man, he taught his children to enjoy the simple things in life. He was a man who loved books and taught his children to appreciate education. He was a man who often speculated on the hardships and ironies of life but he eased his serious nature with occasional bursts of a robust and vibrant laugh.In 1949, as a young man James left his home in South Carolina to work for Bartson's Textile Manufacturing in Lavonia. Thereafter, he made his home in Lavonia and continued to work throughout his life in aspects of the textile industry. He worked for Collins and Aiken and retired with Johnson & Johnson, Royston Division, in 1991. He was a member of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church where over the years he served as a Deacon and a member of the Men's Sunday School class. During his lifetime in Lavonia, he raised one son, Jimmy Ray Gray of Fairplay, S.C., and two daughters, Professor Kathryn L. Gray-White of Watkinsville, and Theresa Faye Gray Coleman of Anderson, S.C. He later celebrated the addition to his family by marriage sons Donald E. White and Michael Coleman and daughter Brenda Gibbs Gray. Beginning in 1978, his family increased as grandchildren began to gather around him and these children include James Russell Gray and his wife, Kristen Baradi Gray, Jeromy Todd White, Michael Baard Coleman, Joshua Chad White, Benjamin Ray Gray, Anna Virginia Coleman, and Marc Joseph Coleman.The family will receive guests at the Hamby Funeral Home on Tues. night Nov 25 at 7-9 pm.A private chapel service for the immediate family will be held on Nov 26 2003. The Rev. A.G. Price of Lavonia will officiate at the private chapel service.The public is invited to the graveside service scheduled for Wed. Nov 26 at 3 pm, 2003 at the Burgess (Lavonia) Cemetery on Vickery Street. The graveside service will be conducted by Dr. Larry A. Dunster, Fairplay Presbyterian Church, and Deacon Samuel C. Crenshaw, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church.Pallbearers are Russell Gray, Todd White, Michael Coleman, Chad White, Benjamin Gray, and Marc Coleman.The family requests, in lieu of flowers, ask that donations be made in memory of James W. Gray to the Southern Care Hospice, 5095 Jefferson Road, Suite 110, Athens, GA, 706-549-5558.Hamby Funeral Home, 355 Bear Creek Road, LavoniaPlease sign our Guest Book at www.onlineathens.com.Athens Banner-Herald, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2003