(Mrs. J.S. Gray)
Sunrise – April 9,1926
Sunset – June 27, 2012
A resident of Baton Rouge for 66 years, she was born and raised in the small town of Jonesville, La. in Catahoula Parish. Alyne was the oldest child of Allen Davis Swayze and Elnor Ussery Swayze. She grew up in a loving and happy home surrounded by two sisters, a brother, many cousins, aunts, uncles and two sets of grandparents. After graduating from Block High School in Jonesville, she went to Alexandria, Louisiana to work at Camp Livingston. Since she was a very pretty girl and loved music and dancing, she became very active in the local USO. Alyne married J.S. Gray on June 14, 1946 at the Jonesville United Methodist Church. After their marriage, Alyne and J.S. moved to Baton Rouge so J.S. could attend L.S.U. while Alyne went to work at Gulf States Utilities. They became the parents of two sons, Jeffery Scott Gray and Joe Carlton Gray, both residents of Baton Rouge. Alyne and J.S. were long term active members of Zoar Baptist Church. They were also members of The Red Stick Chapter of American Ex-Prisoners of War. Alyne served as Chapter Commander for several years and quite often spoke to various groups about J.S.’s years as a Japanese POW and his survival of the Bataan Death March. She was most proud to be a member of the Descendants of the Jersey Settlers being a direct descendant of the Reverend Samuel Swayze who in 1772 brought a group of family and friends to the Natchez area to escape the Revolutionary War. She was a past member of the Colonial Dames XVII Century Governor George Harlan chapter in Natchez, Mississippi and the Isaac Monet chapter in Baton Rouge. Alyne loved playing the piano and entertaining. She is survived by two sons, Jeffery Scott Gray and his wife, Mary Holthaus Gray, and Joe Carlton Gray. Also survived by three grandchildren, Allen Davis Gray, Amy Claire Gray, Jordan Swayze Gray and his wife, Sarah; one great-granddaughter Cameron Cash; a sister and brother-in-law, Minnie Swayze Smith and Steve B. Smith; four very special nieces, Dianne Scott Nicholson, Susan Scott Bean, Deborah Scott Grier and Julia Scott Edmonston; three nephews, Stephen A. Smith, J. Walker Smith and Robert Bruce Smith; many loving cousins and many special friends. Preceded in death by her husband, J.S. Gray; parents, Allen Davis Swayze and Elnor Ussery Swayze; brother, Roy Ussery Swayze; sister and brother-in-law, Betty Jo Swayze Scott and L.C. Scott; niece, Jane Scott Wilds and grandparents, Josie and T.B. Ussery and Allen and Mary Swayze. Visitation will be at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Friday, June 29th from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Visitation will resume at Zoar Baptist Church, 11848 Hooper Road, Central, Louisiana, on Saturday, June 30th beginning at 9:00 a.m. until services at 10:00 a.m. Service will be officiated by Reverend Kevin Hand and interment will be in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be J. Walker Smith, Scott Bean, William Atkins, Brian Grier, Richard Wilds, Robert Lee Swayze, Johnny Edmonston and Phillip Spinks. Honorary Pallbearers will be Dickie Bankston, Raymond Nicholson, Dicky Wilds and Bill Atkins. Extra special thanks to all the caregivers for their wonderful care, love and devotion not only to Alyne but also to members of our family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Red Stick Chapter of American Ex-Prisoners of War, Cmdr. Beth Dawson, 4657 Hwy 68, Jackson, LA 70748.
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