Bonnie Bradshaw Gray

Bonnie Bradshaw Gray of Winchester, Tennessee, passed away Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018, at the age of 81.  
She was born to the late Percy Linnis Bradshaw and Elsie Goodman Bradshaw of Jackson, and was preceded in death by her two brothers: Percy (Doyle) Bradshaw of Clinton, and Aubrey (Lynne) Bradshaw of Bogalusa, Louisiana.  She is survived by: her husband of 61 years, Col. USA (Ret.) Frank McKay (Pete) Gray, Jr.,  her daughter, Jennifer Gray Vogelfanger and grandson, Kellen McKay Vogelfanger, both of Franklin, Tennessee; her sister and family: Bobbie  (Lou) Tomlinson, of Cape Girardeau, MIssouri, and sister-in law and family, Reba Bradshaw, of Clinton. 
Bonnie was born in Rankin County.  She was a graduate of West Point High School.  After being awarded a music scholarship, she attended Mississippi State College for Women before marrying Pete in 1956 and attending Mississippi State University.  After Pete graduated from MSU and was called to active duty, the couple embarked on a 27-year military career that took them around the United States and the world, including Anchorage, Alaska, where Jennifer was born, and to Darmstadt, Germany.  After moving back to the States, Bonnie graduated from Austin Peay State University with honors in 1981, where she received an American Association of University Women award. She became a teacher and later a court reporter before founding Huntsville Business Institute School of Court Reporting, in Huntsville, Alabama, where she pursued her passion of helping numerous women achieve success in their own lives.  Throughout her life, she enjoyed playing the piano and organ for many churches, choral groups, and nursing homes. In her mid 70s, she learned to play the carillon at The University of the South, climbing to the top of Shapard Tower to give beautiful performances over Sewanee's campus.  Bonnie loved life and put the needs of family and friends before her own.  She was a blessing to all who knew her. 
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 17, 2018, at First United Methodist Church 100 South Jefferson Street Winchester, TN 37398.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Watson-North Funeral Home of Winchester, Tennessee is in charge of arrangements.