Nelda Carpenter Gray
(September 18, 1928 - June 16, 2016)


Nelda Gray, 87, died on Thursday, June 16, 2016. Born in Hattiesburg, to James B. and Edna Carpenter, she graduated from Hattiesburg High School and attended the University of Southern Mississippi. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, June 19, 2016 at 4:00 pm at Hathorn Funeral Home in Columbia. Interment will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery. Bro. Reed Houston will officiate the services. Visitation will be Sunday, June 19, 2016 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Hathorn Funeral Home.

She was an excellent student and a dutiful daughter, leaving college when her father was severely burned in an explosion to help her mother care for him. She had many fond memories of her father’s love for fishing and of times following her handsome big brother around the neighborhood. She was a beautiful, vivacious young woman who married and raised her three children in a Christian home in Columbia, Mississippi.

Her professional life was spent as an accountant and office manager for her husband’s business, Gray’s Ice Cream, and later with The Family Clinic. Managing a busy medical clinic, she saw to every detail and helped many young girls start a career in the medical field.

As a young bride in the 50’s in Columbia, her life was filled with the activities of the many couples who had begun their lives there - parties, picnics, social events of all types. Life was good. The young fathers were building their businesses, the children were growing healthy and safe, and the young mothers made nice homes for their families.

Nelda’s Christian faith and her loyalty to her home church, First Baptist Church of Columbia, were an important part of her life. Her pew was down front on the right, and that is where she was found every Sunday. In her later years, when troubles overtook her, her faith sustained her.

She shared her financial blessings with many, most anonymously. When she learned that someone had a personal financial difficulty, she was there to help.

Nelda served in many leadership roles in her community and church. She was active in the Junior Auxiliary and the Cosmopolitan Club, serving also as the Marion County Republican Chairman for many years, as had her husband been before her.

Her grandchildren remember fondly spending Friday nights with her, making peanut butter cookies and being called “Mamaw’s little peetie pie.” Her love and attention gave each grandchild unconditional love.

She was predeceased by her beloved son, Jeff Gray, and the father of her children, W.G. Gray. She is survived her brother, James Ray Carpenter of Hattiesburg and her two children: Kathy Henry, with husband Mark, of Brandon, and their two children: Dr. George Henry of Richmond, Virginia, and Elizabeth Henry of Washington, DC.; her son, Steve Gray, with wife Cheryl, of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida; and their children: Ryan Gray (Kelly) of Birmingham, Jacquelyn Gray of Hattiesburg, Rachel Brightbill (Justin) of Derwood, Maryland, Alyssa Baker (Bolton) of Portland, Oregon, and Hunter Beezley (Nikki), of White Plains, New York, and seven grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 900 High School Avenue, Columbia, MS 39429.

Hathorn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, (601)731-2000. Friends and family may sign an online guest book at www.hathornfuneralhome.com.