Mrs. Mary Frances Murphy Gray, 80, passed away Monday afternoon, November 6, 2017. A native of Greene County, she was born December 31, 1936, the daughter of William Lyman and Rosabell Jones Murphy. For many years she worked as a supervisor with the former Granite Glove; however, her greatest profession was as a consummate homemaker where she cherished her roles as a wife, mother, and grandmother. She held to the tradition of preparing a large Sunday lunch for all of her family and was happiest when they were together. Mary Frances possessed a heart of gold and was always doing for others in her family, church and community. She was a member of Grimsley OFWB Church where she was very active in church activities until her health began to decline. Regardless of the setting or occasion, her toasted pecan cake was a cherished treat for any who could garner a slice.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years earlier this year, Dan Gray; a sister, Dean M. Whitley; and brothers, Linwood Murphy and Ronald Earl Murphy.
Her surviving family includes her children, Terry G. Thomas and husband, Rex, Danny Gray and wife, Susan, and Chris Gray and wife, Cindy, all of Snow Hill; brother, Wayne Murphy and wife, Debbie of Winterville; sisters-in-law, Nancy Tyson Murphy of Snow Hill and Mary Alice Murphy of Wilmington; grandchildren, Tracy G. Gray and husband, Trey of Raleigh, Daniel Gray and wife, Shey of Palm Coast, FL, Roger Thomas and wife, Alicia of Snow Hill, Crystal T. Hall of Roxboro, Shaun Gray and wife, Sarah, Jessica G. Harris and husband, Chase, and Christyn Gray, all of Snow Hill; and 8 great-grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be held 3 PM Thursday, November 9, at Grimsley OFWB Church with Reverend Keith Phillips officiating. Interment will immediately follow at the Snow Hill Cemetery.
The family will receive friends immediately following the service on Thursday at the cemetery and other times at the Gray residence.