Jeanne McClure Gray

Jeanne was born on June 13, 1928, the only child of Arthur McClure and Myrta Florrid. She grew up in Atlanta and was a 1945 graduate of Girls High School, where she played violin with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra during its inaugural season. Jeanne attended Peabody Teacher’s College at Vanderbilt University, graduating in 1949. She subsequently earned a Master’s in Education from Georgia State University in 1970.

Jeanne spent her professional career in early childhood education. She taught kindergarten with the Atlanta Public Schools for many years, and later worked as a Lead Teacher for the Teacher Corps and as a resource coordinator and national consultant for the Follow Through Program.

She met her husband, George Gray, on a blind date and they married in 1951. They remained happily married for over 50 years until he died in 2003. Her husband served as the Georgia District Administrator for Kiwanis International’s Circle K college chapters from 1975 through 1993, and Jeanne was an active partner with him in mentoring an entire generation of Georgia college students. She and her husband were affectionately known as “Mom” and “Dad” to dozens of Circle K’ers.

Jeanne will be remembered for her warm smile, friendliness, compassion, strong faith, and her strength in enduring a series of serious health issues. Jeanne loved gardening, reading novels, playing Bridge, flower arranging, and a succession of pet dogs and cats. In her later years, she was a familiar sight on her red mobility scooter walking her dog “Cricket” along Frederica Road. She and her husband were charter members of Wesley United Methodist Church at Frederica, where she sang for many years in the choir and enjoyed decorating tables for church events.

Jeanne is survived by two children, Mary Jo Davis of St. Simons and Jefferson Gray of Baltimore, Maryland; a daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Gray; three grandchildren, Molly Davis of Atlanta and Olivia and Austin Gray of Baltimore; and by four nieces and nephews: Kathryn Walker of Cumming, Georgia; Howard Walker of St. Simons; Martin Walker of Brentwood, Tennessee; and Ellen Walker of New York City.

A memorial service to celebrate her love of living will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2015 with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Faithworks, 2911 Altama Ave., Brunswick, GA 31520; the United Methodist Women at Wesley United Methodist Church at Frederica, 6520 Frederica Road, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522, or The Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia, 4627 US Highway 17, Brunswick, GA 31525.