James Gray

GRAY, James Edwin Jr., "Jimmy," age 91, a Richmond native, passed away Monday, January 10, 2011. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Edwin Gray Sr. and Ada Gordon Gray; and his brother, William Robert Gray. Jimmy graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1938 and Virginia Tech in the class of 1943. He served as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in the Pacific and in the Army Reserve for 10 years after World War II. Jimmy was the founder and President of Gray Realty Corporation until he retired in 1983. Jimmy served on the Board of Directors for the Richmond Board of Realtors, the Rotunda Club, and the Downtown Club. He was a life member of Hermitage Country Club, where he served on their Board of Directors for 25 years. Jimmy's passion in life was participating in sports and supporting young athletes. He excelled in football, basketball and track in high school and basketball and track at Virginia Tech. He was a champion tennis player and an avid golfer. His involvement in coaching young athletes began in the neighborhood he grew up in, Ginter Park, where he was a member of the Ginter Park Community Association. He coached the youth basketball and football teams for many years. Jimmy will be remembered by all who knew him for his unwavering support of Virginia Tech athletics. He served 25 years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Tech Student Aid Association and was very involved in recruiting athletes for the University. He was inducted into the Richmond Hokie Club Hall of Fame for his leadership and volunteer efforts which played a major role in the success of Virginia Tech athletics. Jimmy also loved boating, fishing and hunting at his summer cottage at Sandy Point on the Potomac. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his devoted wife of 45 years, Gayle Wilburn Gray; six children, Benjamin Gray of Richmond, Edwin Gray of Charlotte, N.C., Carolyn Allen of Jackson Hole, Wyo., William Gray of Kill Devil Hills, N.C., James Gray III of Sabot, Va., and Robin Hargadon of Austin, Texas; eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; a sister, Sarah Gantt; and a brother, George Gray, both of Richmond. A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 14, 2011, at 1 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 4602 Cary Street Road, Richmond, Va. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Virginia Tech Athletic Fund, P.O. Box 10307, Blacksburg, Va. 24062.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.