William Slay

William Gray Slay, III

1939~2013

Biloxi

William Gray Slay, III, 74 died peacefully at home on Wednesday, October 9, 2013, in Biloxi, Mississippi.

He was born and raised in Biloxi, as an only child.

Gray attended the University of Southern Mississippi majoring in Real Estate and Business Administration. He received a degree from Louisiana State University, School of Banking of the South becoming the first certified International Banker in the State of Mississippi after having completed training at Bank of America in Los Angeles, CA in 1975. He held a Mississippi Real Estate Broker's License. His career included the positions of Vice President, Senior Vice President, Senior Commercial Lending Officer, and Manager of the International Banking Department for First National Bank of Biloxi (Bancorp South). He was later Vice President and a Board Member of Cayman Energy Company and the Director of Jackson Point, Ltd. both in Grand Cayman, BWI. Gray was Co-Broker of Magnolia Realty and founded Gray Slay Realty, Inc. in 1996.

He was a member of the "Million Dollar Club & Roundtable" of the Biloxi-Ocean Springs, Board of Realtors, named Number One in Commercial Sales for 1991 thru 1996 and 1998 thru 2000. Gray was named Outstanding Realtor for 1996 for both Commercial and Residential sales, the first and only Realtor to accomplish same. He represented developers and played a critical role in assembling many of the current casino sites and Condominium Developments in Biloxi. He was also a member of the Biloxi-Ocean Springs Board of Realtors, Mississippi Commercial Brokers Association (Charter Member), National Real Estate Board of Realtors and the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce.

Gray was a member of the Biloxi Yacht Club since 1965 and served on the Board of Directors. He was a lifelong member of the Biloxi Elks Club, a Founding Member of the Krewe of Neptune and was a past member and officer of Revelers.

He was preceded in death by his parents William Gray "Dub" Slay, Jr. and Marguerite Lowd Slay.

Gray is survived by his wife and best friend of 54 years, Leah Raye Vuyovich Slay, his son William Gray "Dub" Slay, IV (Tina), David M. Slay and one granddaughter, Bailey A. Slay all of Biloxi.

The family would like to give special thanks to caregivers Jody Stoddard, Mary Woods and Sandra Lee.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163.

A private internment will be held at a later date. The Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home is charge of arrangements. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com