Mrs. Melissa Mae Hollowell Gray, 80, a resident of Greenville and a former resident of Aurora died Monday March 18, 2013 at Universal Healthcare of Greenville.
A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, 2013, at Edward Christian Church offici- ated by Pastors David Linton, Bob Cayton, Ray Webb, Bill Roberts and Daylon Mooneyham. Burial will follow in Warren Memorial Cemetery of Blounts Creek. Carl Cayton, Darrell Cayton, Andy Dixon, Doug Niethammer, Jerome Hollowell and Patrick Baker will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Harry Hollowell, Billy Bonner, Keith Baker, Steve Carrow and Bill Parker.
The family will receive friends 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, 2013, at Edward Christian Church. Mrs. Gray was born in Lenoir County on March 3, 1933, daughter of the late Joseph William Hollowell and Ethel Kennedy. She knew Mary Hollowell Foster as her mother. Mrs. Gray was a 1951 graduate of Aurora High School. She married William “Burton” Gray on August 13, 1951 who survives. Mrs. Gray was a homemaker who was a substitute teacher with Aurora High School where she also served as past president of the PTO. She was past manager of Mallard Creek Apartments in Aurora, a wedding planner for many couples in the area and made many of their wedding cakes. Mrs. Gray was very active in Edward Christian Church where she was a member. Survivors include her husband: Burton of the home; a daughter: Judi G. Wooten of Greenville; two sons: Mark Gray and his wife Diane of Greenville and Larry Gray and his wife Sara of Bartow, FL; two brothers: Elden Hollowell and Stanley Hollowell of New Bern; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Mrs. Gray was predeceased by two brothers: Bill Hollowell and Harold F. Hollowell and two sisters: Marian Hollowell and Evelyn H. Harris.
In lieu of flowers the family kindly asks for memorial contributions to be made to United Hospice, 3723 West Wilson St., Wilson, NC 27906.
Online condolences may be offered by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com. Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Gray family.