Lillie Mae Gray

Lillie (Lil) Mae Gray was born in Atoka, Tennessee in Tipton County on May 19, 1929, to Jessie Lee Ragland Hardee and James Weighnel Hardee. She was later joined by two brothers, Jim and Kenneth Hardee. As a teenager, she met William (Bill) Edward Gray in a local drug store and soda shop where she was working. He stood her up on their first date when he decided to play baseball with some friends but came by later to apologize. Her mother said she should forgive him. They married on September 16, 1948 and were married for 59 years when Bill died in 2008. In her earlier life, she enjoyed traveling around the country and especially to the beach. As a family, she, Bill and Teresa spent long summer vacations often on Anna Marie Island in Florida. Her passions in life were gardening and painting the wooden crafts that she and Bill created. She had a “green thumb” and could make anything grow and “Lil’s Bit of Country” crafts adorn many homes of friends. She leaves behind her daughter, Teresa Anderson, son-in-law, Danny, and grandson, Reid (Cameron) and two brothers, Jim and Kenneth Hardee.