Bobby D. Gray

Bobby Degwene Gray was born on October 8, 1958, to Geraldine Davis Sanders and C.C. (June) Gray.  As the 4th oldest son of  June’s, and the youngest son of Geraldine’s, he helped raise them and gave his all always putting them first. This was early evidence of his benevolent nature. Having professed his faith as a child, he was raised and baptized at Greater Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church. He served as a junior deacon and would eventually be ordained as a deacon.

A product of the Arkadelphia Public School District, Bobby, was a 1978 graduate of Arkadelphia High School, attended Henderson State University, and did some technical training at Bell and Howell. He enlisted in the Army National Guard Infantry Division on January 4, 1978, and was honorably discharged on April 23, 1985.  His primary specialty was as an 11B Infantryman, which assisted in the performance of reconnaissance operations, employ, fire, and recover anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, and locate and neutralize mines, operate, mount/dismount, zero, and engage targets using night vision sight. He received numerous decorations, medals and badges including the Air Assault Badge, ARCVAM, ASR, NCOPD (1), Hand Grenade, and Rifle M16A1 Expert.

After serving in the armed forces, he returned to Arkadelphia and began working as a Technician at TCA Cable in 1989 and was a part-time limousine driver for Jerry Jones (owner of the Dallas Cowboys). He later worked for Resort Cable TV in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and moved to Tulsa in 1998 where he worked for TCI Cable, now Cox Communications where he retired as a UH Technician Developing on October 20, 2021.

On March 6, 1998, he married Jeanette A. Reggans, and two sons were added to the blended family. He enjoyed being a father, and grandfather and his children were his pride and joy. While in Tulsa he united with Morning Star Baptist Church where he was an active member having served both as a deacon and with the Brotherhood.

After retirement, Bobby and Jeanette moved to Malvern, Arkansas to be closer to her family, friends, and the communities that had first inspired them to seek out a well-rounded and fulfilling life. He reunited as a member of Greater Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church and reestablished close ties with his family and friends. He was accepted as a deacon; he was a member of the Laymen ministry and of the Men of Faith. He made great attempts at being a master gardener. Bobby was a “friend of friends” he never met a stranger, and he could talk for hours.

He lived a full and good life. As he matured as a man his faith and moral compass led him to make decisions that were not always popular but were the right thing to do. He always believed in the Bible, and he knew that nothing was impossible with God in the plan.

Bobby entered eternal peace on Sunday, December 17, 2023. He joined the ranks of his family who preceded him in death; his parents, Geraldine Davis Sanders, and C.C. (June) Gray; his beloved grandmother, Hattie Mae Davis, his siblings, Kenny Davis, James C. Davis, Larry Davis, Michael Davis, Gary Lawrence Davis, Wayne Gray, Tora Gray, Glenn Gray and Dwight Gray.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Jeanette Gray of Malvern; his children, Christopher (Kellisha) of Lillington, NC, Marcus James of Tulsa, OK, Shavonda Gray of Atlanta, GA, Joseph James of Tulsa, OK and Tiffany Gray of Malvern, AR; Shanique Murray-John (Emmerson) of Tulsa, OK whom he loved as a daughter, and 15 grandchildren. He also leaves six brothers, Carlton R. Taylor of Malvern, Gary Gray of Las Vegas, NV, Billy Ray Perry of Arkadelphia, AR, Reginald “Peter” Knox of Miami, FL, Roderick Gray of Arkadelphia, AR, Bruce “Top Cat” Gray of Arkadelphia, AR, and one sister, Wanda Gray of Gurdon, AR. Lastly, he leaves many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, the Morning Star Baptist Church family, the Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church family, especially the Deacons Ministry and the Laymen Ministry.  As believers in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we take joy in knowing that we will see him again.

 

A celebration of his life will be at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 23, 2023 at Greater Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church, with Dr. Lewis A. Shepherd, Jr., eulogist. Mr. Gray will lie in state one hour prior to service time. The interment will be at Helms Cemetery, AR.