Mary Jane Whitley Gray

       WADESBORO – On Tuesday, February 15, 2022, Mrs. Mary Jane Whitley Gray, 89, transferred from the church militant to the church triumphant, at her home with her daughters and close friends at her bedside.

    Mary Jane was born December 15, 1932, in Stanly County, NC and was a daughter of the late Ernest Tillmon Whitley and the late Eunice Jelean Hudson Whitley. She was a graduate of Aquadale High School and received a Bachelor of Education from Woman’s College in Greensboro, which is now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

    She taught Home Economics in the Anson County School System and retired as a science teacher with 37 years of service.

    Mary Jane was a long-time and faithful member of First United Methodist Church, Wadesboro. She served in many capacities at First Church which includes, former Sunday School teacher, member of the administrative board, member of the handbell choir, officer and member of the United Methodist Women, chaired work area on education and youth, coordinated Disciple training, maintained the church bulletin boards, member of the No Boundaries Travel Group and other various committees and areas of service.

    Those left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Crysta Gray Williams of New London and Kelly Gray Bradley and husband, Scott of Gastonia; her grandchildren, Whitley Morgan Griggs of Charlotte and Matthew Gray Bradley of Gastonia; her step-grandsons, Ryan Michael Bradley of Jacksonville, FL and Kyle Edward Bradley and wife, Carrie of Indian Land, SC; her step-great-grandson, Easton Edward Bradley of Indian Land, SC and her brother and sister, Dan Cabot Whitley and wife, Janet of Norwood and Patsy Whitley Crowell of Indian Trail.

    In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Bennett Gray.

    There will be a service celebrating her life at 2:00pm Wednesday, February 23, 2022 by the graveside in Anson Memorial Park with Rev. Stacey Lundy officiating. The family will greet friends following the service.

    In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 118 E. Morgan St., Wadesboro, NC 28170 or to Community Home Care and Hospice, 1791 E. Broad Ave., Rockingham, NC 28379.

    The arrangements are in care of Leavitt Funeral Home and online condolences may be made at www.leavittfh.com