William Earl Gray

William E. Gray, Jr, Born to Earl and Grace Gray 10/1111936 in Waynesboro, MS. Preceded in death by his Grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. Walter P. Gray, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brewer, Parents, Earl and Grace Gray and brother, Floyd Gray.

Preceded in death by his daughter Suzonne Elizabeth Gray. Survived by His wife of 62 years, Jean Packard Gray son, David Michael Gray (and his wife, Melody) of Mobile, AL.

William Started Piano lessons at age 5, At 13, Became the Organist for his home church, First Methodist Church, Waynesboro, Mississippi & at 15 Organist-Choirmaster. Graduated from Waynesboro High School in 1955. His High School Organ & Piano Teacher was Mazie Vaughan Mackrell, Laurel,

MS. Attended LSU and Graduated with a Bachelor of Music Degree in organ & a Master of Music Degree.

His LSU Organ Teacher was Professor Frank Collins. He studied privately in New York City with Concert Organist, Ernest White.

Married his wife of 62 years Jean Packard in Conway, Arkansas. Held many church positions including

First Methodist Church, Waynesboro, MS., First Methodist Church, Columbia, MS., Brainerd United Methodist Church, Chattanooga, TN., Mayflower Congregational Church, Grand Rapids, MI. Church Street United Methodist Church, Knoxville, TN., First- Trinity Presbyterian Church, Laurel, MS.

Along with teaching positions at Tennessee Wesleyn College, Athens, TN (Organ), Southern Missionary College, Collegedale, TN (Organ), University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (Organ and Church Music)

He was employed throughout his life in the Pipe Organ Industry with Moller Organ Company, Hagerstown, MD as Area Representative - Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi & Louisiana. National Manager for Design and Sales, Company President. Rieger Kloss, Czech Republic as United States Representative for Sales and Design and Austin Organ Company as a Designer and Sales.

In his career, he was involved in the design of over 100 Pipe Organs, his family business of retail furniture. Manager of Gray Funiture Company after father died and mother was in Assisted Living.

He closed Gray Furniture Company after mother's death, returned to Pipe Organ Business.

William was a member of several professional organizations; Phi Mu Alfa Sinfonia Music Fraternity

LSU Student Council, Representing the School of Music, American Guild of Organists, Dean of Chattanooga, Knoxville and Nashville Chapters, Sub Dean of South Mississippi Chapter

Regional Chairman for the South Eastern United States, Member of the National Council

Chaired Regional AGO Conventions in Chattanooga and Knoxville, Chaired the 2012 National Convention of the American Guild of Organist that met in Nashville, Tennessee. The Fellowship of United Methodist Musicians,Diaconal Minister (retired) in the United Methodist Church, was in the first class of Diaconal Ministers. Rotarian - Columbia, Waynesboro and Nashville (Bellevue) Chapters