Delana Gray Stokes

Born August 22nd, 1940 to Fred C. Gray and Lola Lousie Chastain Gray, she was a lifelong resident of Oklahoma City, where she built a loving blended family and a remarkable professional career.

After graduating Putnam City High School in 1958, she went on to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from Oklahoma City University, followed by a Master’s Degree in Education from Central State College in 1970.

She began her career in education teaching typing at Central Junior High. She quickly transitioned to higher education, teaching all aspects of business and computer programming at Rose State College. Following a brief retirement, she returned to teaching at Southern Nazarene University, before retiring for good in 2003.

DeLana was a faithful and humble servant of Jesus, a powerful prayer warrior, and a wise counselor. Her quiet gifts and generosity embodied Christ’s teachings to help those in need without seeking attention or recognition. She firmly believed that her faith was responsible for her 29-year breast cancer survival.

She was a member of Surrey Hills Baptist Church for almost 50 years, where she served in many roles – including decades as church treasurer.

In 1962, she married Hub Worrell and together they had a son, Forrest Gray Worrell. After this marriage ended, she met Henry Holt “Hank” Stokes in a church single’s class. They married in 1985 and shared 24 years of marital bliss before his tragic passing in 2009.

Together, she and Hank built a large patchwork family with unconditional love, compassion and faith as its foundation.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband Hank Stokes, her grandson Kenneth Jarrett (Junior) Wright, her close friends Ike and Larry Bisel, Carla Taylor, and former husband Hub Worrell.

She is survived by her brother Howard C. Gray and sister-in-law Nancy Gray; her sons Forrest Worrell, Greg Stokes, and Robert Stokes; their spouses Dionne, Tara, and Jayne; her step-children Mitch Stokes and Shannon Holt; grandchildren Miranda and husband Brett Means, Katelyn Worrell, Justin Wright, Jillian Stokes, Colton Stokes, Connor McGuinness, Leah Stokes, Seth Whitehurst, Molly Holt, Christian Stokes, Timmy Stokes, Haley Stokes, April Connelly, Gail Stokes, and great grandchildren Kael Winham, Leighton Lynn Michelle Wright, Matthew Means and Lucas Means.

Her favorite Scripture was Jeremaiah 29:11, and she embraced the wisdom that especially in hopeless situations, God would bless her obedience and faith. This proved to be true throughout her life. “Well done, good and faithful servant!”