Glenn Gray

Glenn Gray, 83, is now among the ancestors. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, and mentor, he transitioned peacefully on April 8, 2024, at his home in Plainfield, New Jersey, where he lived all of his life. The youngest of seven children, he was born to Irving Walter Gray Sr. and Cora Gray (née Cabbell) on February 9, 1941, at Muhlenberg Hospital.
Glenn was known for his easy-going, fun-loving nature, his limitless generosity, his ferocious sweet tooth and for being one of the most meticulous humans on planet Earth! Later in life, he got the nickname "Cooker" when his 2-year-old granddaughter, Maya, asked him, "Why are you always in the kitchen cooking?" Glenn replied, "Because I'm the cooker in the family," and Maya said, "Then that's your name!" And the rest is history. However, to his grandson Christopher, he's just Grandpa.
The family of nine, including their grandfather, Luther "Jack" Jackson, rented the lower part of a 2-family home on Plainfield Avenue, eventually buying a house nearby on 5 th Street. Glenn had good times playing ball, fishing and swimming with his childhood buddies Kenny, Bruce, Otto, Henry, Eugene, Mel, and Goody. On Sundays, Glenn and his two youngest siblings attended
Shiloh Baptist church with his father. Afterwards their father would pick up his wife Cora and drive the kids to the Little White House for hot dogs. The day would end with a family dinner including Cora's famous homemade rolls. Glenn attended Washington School, until a fire forced the student body to move to the brand new Clinton Elementary. He then went on to attend Stillman and Emerson schools. His beloved father became ill and passed away leaving 13-year-old Glenn devastated, but he found the strength to carry on and continued to Plainfield High School where he ran track and took mechanical drawing. Glenn applied and was accepted to Montclair State College where he wanted to study art, but was unable to attend. As it happens, PHS was also where he met a beautiful young lady named Judy Grey (no relation) that would become his life partner. They met in study hall where a teacher and a friend decided that they should meet. They were married by Reverend Ovie Lattimore with Tommy Butts, Patricia Franklin Darrell, and family members by their side on February 6, 1960, in a small
ceremony at the Grey home.
Glenn was a Renaissance Man who worked many jobs. He started working at age 14 shining shoes for tips at Scotty Shoeshine Parlor. At 16 he worked on a garbage truck, hauling garbage, but admitted he was too slow, and he didn't last long. He then worked as a busboy at The Mansard Inn that use to stand on 7 th Street. Starting in early 1960, he worked the night shift for 2 years at Revlon Cosmetics supplying material for the women that worked the assembly line. Then he started the hardest job of his life. He sold policies door to door for Progressive Life Insurance.
In 1965, Glenn discovered through the Urban League that Westinghouse was looking to hire people of color. He interviewed for the job on the same day he and Judy moved into their new home on Hillside Avenue--the neighborhood that would impact their lives forever. Glenn started at Westinghouse as a trainee commercial artist. He became a dial marker, putting numbers by hand on meters for ships, airplanes, and even space crafts. He worked with engineers and eventually had his own desk and drafting table. Even though it wasn't necessary, he wore a suit and tie and carried a briefcase every day. Dressing up was his nature. He worked a second job at Park Pharmacy in Scotch Plains for 26 years. The drugstore became a hang out. The gang would play poker on Friday nights. On Saturday mornings, the kids couldn't wait to open the kitchen cabinet to seek out the Milky Way bars he always stuffed into it the night before.
Unfortunately, Westinghouse moved to Florida which ended an almost 20-year relationship with the company. He maintained special friendships with many people from that job until his death.
In 1981, with 2 of his kids still in college, Glenn attended Drake Business school to obtain a broker's license to open an office selling auto insurance. He called it Bel-Hollow Insurance Agency on South Avenue. It was a success. Then he started a tax business called Accurate Business Services. He even started a lucrative picture framing business in a part of his tax
office. The framing business ended when he moved out of his rental space and into his home office.
The simple pleasures of life gave Glenn great joy. Every summer he and Judy took the family on vacation road trips. Favorite spots included Montreal and Quebec Canada, Disney world, Wildwood and Cape May. Glenn loved music, movies, and theater. The family enjoyed movies and Broadway shows in New York and toured the sights of the city. The melodious sounds of Ray Charles, Betty Carter, Errol Garner, Nancy Wilson, Horace Silver and Tony Bennett wafted over the Gray living room during Glenn's jazz sets in the 1960s. During his free time, he loved to paint and chalk because he found it relaxing, fun and creative. He even set up a studio with lots of light at his brother-in-law's house. He liked to play certain competitive sports and games. He and Judy played tennis on summer nights for many years and Glenn enjoyed a game of golf with his friends. On Saturday nights you might catch him setting up a Pokeno party with multiple card tables in the living room. The Gray family had several pets and Glenn treated them like his kids. The bread in the house would mysteriously disappear faster than it should,
and it was discovered that he was feeding the cocker spaniel buttered toast before he left for work every morning.
In his later years, Glenn became a casino goer. He would say, "At first we thought it was boring and then we got old and realized everybody there looks like us. It's our entertainment and you feel safe". Well Glenn is safe now, looking down on us giggling and belly laughing still. What a wonderful life. He was always there for his family. Well done, Cooker! Glenn is survived by his spouse of 64 years, Judith Lynn Gray, his 3 children and their spouses, Judi Gray Mabern (Michael) of Los Angeles, Leslie Danielle Gray (Perry McGowan) of Philadelphia, Glenn Anthony Gray (Monique) of Plainfield, his grandchildren, Maya Glenne Mabern and Christopher Anthony Gray. His brother, Floyd Gray, Sr. (Doris) and his sister Genevieve Whitener both of Piscataway. His brothers-in-law, Lyndoors Grey (Carolyn) of Massachusetts and Daine Arthur Grey (Ruthann) of Maryland, his sister-in-law, Mary Inez Gray of North Carolina and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. And his grand cat, Marceline Mabern
He is predeceased by his parents, Irving Walter Gray, Sr., and Cora Gray (née Cabbell), siblings Herman Augustus Austin, Dorothy Elizabeth Bouie (Doris), (née Gray), Irving Walter Gray, Jr. (Junie), and Nathan Gray (Sandy). And his grand dogs, Max, and Gizmo Gray The Gray family will announce an event celebrating his life in the near future.