Linda Gray

Linda was born December 2, 1944, in Grenada, Mississippi, to Earl and Juanita Clemons. She attended school in Benoit, Mississippi, graduating as Valedictorian of the Benoit High Class of 1963, where she was named Miss Benoit High School, Homecoming Queen, Head Cheerleader, and Editor of the school newspaper.

On March 3, 1960, Calvin Gray asked Linda to “go steady” and she said “yes.” Calvin and Linda married on May 29, 1965, at the Benoit Union Church, beginning a marriage that lasted more than 61 years.

After returning from their honeymoon in Panama City, Florida, Linda enrolled at Mississippi State University, majoring in accounting. She graduated with highest honors in two years and eight months. During her time at MSU, she was involved with the Accounting Club, Phi Kappa Phi, the Student Senate, and was recognized in Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities.

When Calvin began working for IBM in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1969, Linda worked for Brown Engineering Company. Their first son, Stephen Earl, was born in 1970. Following an IBM transfer to East Fishkill, New York, their second son, Matthew Minor, was born in Poughkeepsie in 1971. Another transfer brought the family to Gaithersburg, Maryland, where their third son, Daniel Meriwether, was born in Bethesda in 1975. A final transfer with IBM in Austin brought the family to Georgetown in 1979.

Linda worked as a substitute teacher with G.I.S.D. for several years before joining The Candle Factory. Initially hired to paint candles, she was quickly promoted to business manager after the owner learned of her accounting degree. She held this position for over seventeen years, enjoying her interactions with customers and buyers from across Texas and the country.

Linda accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior as a teenager and was baptized in the Baptist faith at Benoit Union Church. In Maryland, she was a member of Redland Hills Baptist Church. After moving to Georgetown, Linda was an active member of Crestview Baptist Church until her death. At Crestview, she taught Bible study for various age groups, volunteered at Camp Crestview for over a decade, helped provide lunches to Southwestern University students and faculty, and participated in the community visitation program.

Linda was also deeply dedicated to the Boy Scouts of America. She began as a den leader with Cub Scout Pack 1438 in Maryland and continued with Pack 153 in Georgetown, serving as den leader for all three sons. She volunteered extensively with the Capitol Area Council, serving as a leader with the Lone Star, Tomahawk, and San Gabriel Districts. She earned her Doctorate in Commissioner Science, was recognized as a Distinguished Commissioner, and helped organize Troop 405 in 1986, where she served as the Chartered Organization Representative for 27 years. For her leadership, she received the District Award of Merit and the Silver Beaver Award, and was immensely proud that all three of her sons earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Linda logged over 300 days and nights of camping with Troop 405, including monthly camping trips, eighteen trips to the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico for backpacking, hiking and attending training, sailing trips at the Florida and Bahamas Sea Bases, and canoeing at the Northern Tier base in Minnesota.

In addition to her husband, Calvin, Linda is survived by her sons and their families: Stephen Gray and wife, Randa, of Alexandria, Virginia; Matthew Gray and future wife, Karma Waterman, of College Station; and Daniel Gray and wife, Jen, of Georgetown; as well as daughter-in-law Kristie Gray of College Station. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Annie Gray and future husband, Cole MacKenzie of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Allison Gray of Blacksburg, Virginia, Ainsley Gray of Alexandria, Virginia, Braden Gray of Fayetteville, Arkansas and Colby Gray of College Station. She is survived by her brother, Steve Clemons, of Benoit, Mississippi.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Juanita Clemons, brothers James "Son" Clemons, Wayne Clemons, Larry Clemons, sisters Barbara Davis and Faye Clemons.

A visitation with the family will be held at The Gabriels Funeral Chapel between 6-8 p.m. on Friday, October 2. The funeral service will take place at 10 a.m., also at The Gabriels Funeral Chapel, the following morning, Saturday, October 3. Linda will be laid to rest at the IOOF Cemetery in Georgetown following the funeral service.