James Marion Gray Sr.

James Marion"Sammy" Gray, Sr.James Marion" Sammy" Gray, Sr., 81, husband of Doris Johnson Gray, of Beaufort, SC, died Sunday, November 17, 2013 surrounded by his family. Sammy was born August 22, 1932 in Port Royal, SC. He was the son of the late Harold Buster Gray, Sr. and Evie Maghee Gray. Sammy graduated from Beaufort High School. He was a member of the Carteret Street United Methodist Church. He retired from Grayco, and was formerly employed by SCE & G and the Bank of Beaufort. He was a former member of The Jaycees, Sertoma, The Beaufort Yacht Club and the recipient of the Rotary Bowl in 1957. Sammy was a charter member of the Jean Ribaut Society. He was a founder of the Beaufort Water Festival and the 3rd Commodore of the Beaufort Water Festival. He was a member of the Beaufort Memorial Hospital's board of director's and regents. Sammy was an avid fisherman and published storyteller. He took great pride, joy and immense love for his four grandchildren. He is survived by his loving wife, Doris; his son, James "Jim" Marion Gray, Jr. (Cynthia) of Beaufort, SC and his daughter, Margaret Gray Messner (Michael) of Beaufort, SC; four brothers, Donald Gray, Richard L. Gray, William J. Gray and Roy D. Gray; one sister, Linda Gray Cross; and four grandchildren, James Marion" Sammy" Gray, III, Andrew Wolff Gray, Arthur Dickson "Son" Cannon, IV and Charlotte Gray Cannon, all of whom were the pride and joy of his life. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Harold B. "Buster" Gray, Jr., and one sister Anne Gray Lubkin and his beloved first born daughter, Rebecca "Becky" Johnson Gray. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 from 5-7pm at Anderson Funeral Home. Graveside funeral services will be held on Thursday, November 21, 2013 at 2:00pm in Evergreen Cemetery, where he will be interred by his grandparents. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Carteret Street United Methodist Church, 408 Carteret Street, Beaufort, SC 29902 or Beaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 2233, Beaufort, SC 29901. Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.