Rev. Clementene Gray Gulley

Clementene Gray Gulley was born August 11, 1936 to the parentage of Rozell and Eva M. Johnson Gray of Franklin Texas. The family later moved to Dallas, Texas. A product of the Dallas Public School System where she graduated Valedictorian from Lincoln High School. She was a member of Magnolia CME Church. Clem (as she was affectionately called) attended Texas College in Tyler, Texas where she was involved in choir, Steerettes, Cheerleading, Beta Kappa Chi, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and many other activities such as writing and producing plays. She graduated with honors in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology and a Secondary School Teacher Certificate.

She married Lee Patrick Gulley in August 1958. To this union two sons were born: Steven Lee Gulley and Lee Patrick Gulley II.

Clementene worked as a technician at Southwestern Medical School and was a science teacher at Sequoyah and O. W. Holmes Middle Schools. She had the opportunity to attend a new special program at Parkland Hospital School of Cytotechnology on completion she was certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathologist. She became the supervisor, registrar and instructor of the department under the direction of Dr. Alice Smith.

The family later moved to Los Angeles, California where she was employed by Cancer Screening Services and soon became the supervisor of over 40 cytotechnologists. While at CSS, she was certified by the International Academy of Cytology, the states of California and New York. She also became the president of the Los Angeles Chapter of the California Association of Cytotechnologists and the first African American to serve as chairman of the Cytotechnology Advisory Board of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.

While living in Los Angeles she attended Faith United Methodist Church where she taught the Primary Sunday school class, served as youth director and was a certified Lay Speaker of the church.

In 1983, she returned to Dallas to be near her family and purchased her dream home in Duncanville Texas. She resumed her career as a cytotechnologist at Parkland Hospital and later at Smith Kline Bio Medical Lab. Finally, retired from Pathology Bio Medical Lab at Baylor Hospital in the year 2000.

After serving in many capacities in the church and receiving her call to ministry, she attended Dallas Baptist University, SMU Perkins School of Theology. She graduated from Brite Divinity School Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, Texas and received her Master’s Degree in Religious Studies.

After retiring in 2000, she moved to Tyler Texas where she was employed by Texas College and served as campus minister and taught religion. (Texas College was founded by the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church). Her desire was to have a BSA degreed program in religion and a minor in African American History. Both programs were instituted in 2007.

Clementene, has always helped recruit and generously financed many students attending Texas College. On her retirement from Texas College, due to ill health, she was honored by the entire faculty and student body.

She was an ordained elder in the C.M.E. church and served in several capacities, including associate minister at St. James C.M.E. in Tyler, Texas. She retired from active ministry at age 74; however, she continued to teach adult Sunday school class, made banners and supported the Praise dance team.

Clementene was a charter member and officer of Suburbia-Dallas Chapter of Texas College Alumni Association. She worked tirelessly to promote the college and empower students to succeed.

She lived on a private lake in Tyler and hosted several Thanksgiving Dinners and with a home health aide she grew a small garden and harvested berries from the vines she planted. Several years ago she made the decision to return to Dallas to be closer to family members as her health continued to slowly decline.

She moved into her own apartment and united with Layman Chapel C.M.E. Church under the leadership of Rev. Woodrow Holman, Jr. She supported the church financially and attended when she was able to do so. On August 29, 2019, she was admitted into Methodist Hospital Dallas, 18 days after her 83rd birthday and upon release she went to rehab for several weeks.

On Saturday, October 12, 2019 Clem was called to her eternal home in Glory. She was welcomed by her mother, Eva Mae Johnson Gray and father, Rozell Gray.

She leaves to cherish her memories, two sons, Steven Lee Gulley (Ginger) of Castro, California and Lee Patrick Gulley II (Olivia) of Tyler, Texas; 3 grandsons, Antoun Gulley (Tolenia) of Woodridge, Virginia, Justin Alexander Gulley and Brent Steven Gulley all of California; one great granddaughter, Jade of Oklahoma; one great grandson, Antoun II of Virginia; 2 sisters, Christine Rogers of Dallas, Texas and June Anita Gray of Palm Springs, California and 3 brothers, James Gray (Gloria) of Garland, Texas, Bobby Gray of Dallas, Texas and Howard Gray (Brenda) of Red Oak, Texas; a step-mother, Florence Gray of Dallas, Texas; prayer partner and special friend, Phillis Floyd; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

CLEM WAS A FEATURED SPEAKER FOR:

California Legislature in Sacramento CA,

International Association of Clinical Pathology in Miami Florida,

American Society of Clinical Pathology and

Founders Day at Texas College.

DURING CLEM’S LIFETIME SHE RECEIVED

NUMEROUS AWARDS, TROPHIES, AND CERTIFICATES:

California Association of Cytologist,

Los Angeles Association of Cytologist,

Youth Ministry of UMC in Los Angeles,

United Methodist Women at Faith UMC in Los Angeles,

Sunday school teacher at Faith UMC,

Los Angeles certified Lay speaker at UMC and

Foxes and Hounds Step team.

Dallas, Texas:

Parkland School of Cytotechnology,

Pathology Bio Medical Lab at Baylor Hospital,

Business and Professional Women,

Magnolia C.M.E. Church certificate of services and

Suburbia-Dallas Alumni Chapter Distinguished Alumnae Award.