Mary Elizabeth Gray

Mary Elizabeth Gray passed away peacefully at her home in Gaithersburg, MD on February 25, 2019, after a lengthy illness. She was born on April 20, 1958, to the late Frances Gray Hoy, and grew up in Rocky Hill, Clarksburg, MD. Mary she was educated in the Montgomery County School system; and graduated from Gaithersburg High School in 1976.

At an early age, Mary attended John Wesley United Methodist Church in Rocky Hill with her mother, grandmother, aunts, and extended family. Later as an early teen, Mary joined Pleasant Grove Christian Community Church (PGCCC) under the leadership of Pastor Alonzo Graham. There she was very active in the Junior Choir and assisted in preparations for anniversaries, and special programs. When Mary' s mother Frances married Nathan Hoy, who was musician for PGCCC, their family became members. In 1985, Mary joined her grandmother Matilda Gray, her uncle John, her sisters, brother, and cousins in singing with the Gray Gospel Singers. They performed for more than five years at churches all around Montgomery and neighboring Counties, until members of the group left for colleges, or to sing with other renowned groups known as the "Pleasant Grove Male Chorus and A Group Called Seneca."

Mary was an extremely diligent and hard-working individual. She held several jobs as a teen while in school and later was employed by the National Institute of Standards Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD, in the Publications Department. Following the Reductions in Force (OPM/RIF), Mary was employed with MAMSI Insurance Organization, Rockville, MD, for over 20 years as an Administrative Technician until the organization was reestablished under the United Health Plan. Afterward, Mary was a dedicated worker for 16 years part-time with the Gaithersburg Mazda, Gaithersburg, Maryland and received several awards and acknowledgements from the Inventory Department.

Mary leaves to cherish her memory a loving son Jason Gray; two sister s, Sherry Gray-Jones and Terry Gray-Gulston (Kirt), one step-sister Velma Lawson (Roya l) , and one brother Larry Hoy (Kelly) ; two aunts, Faye Pannell and Mildred (Milli) Winston, one uncle, John McDonald, Sr. (Remmari); two step­ uncles Herman Fredericks and George Fredericks (Debbie), and one sister-in -law Tracey Gray. She leaves a devoted friend Stephanie Moore, and three godchildren: Michelle Dennis, Britney Moore, and Marcus Jones. Mary also is survived by six nieces: Tasha Gray (Jeffrey) Shanita Rudolph (Dwayne), Jerushia Aughenbaugh (John), Casey Jones, Chloe and Emma Grace Hoy; three nephews: Terrence Gray (Laquonia), Troy and Marcus Jones, along with 13 great nieces and nephews. Her first cousins are Brian Pannell (LeVonne), Stacey Gills (Michael), -Chris Allsbrooks (Robert), Aaron Driver (Ilaria), John McDonald, Jr. (Brenda), Michael McDonald, and Alysia McDonald, and there are a host of other cousins, family members and friends. Mary was preceded in death by her mother Frances Gray-Hoy, her brother Deacon Gary Gray, her grandmother Matilda Mason Gray, one aunt, Georgia Driver, three uncle s, Rodney Driver, Roland Pannell, Ronald Winston: and one Cousin Eric Pannell.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Elizabeth Gray, please visit our floral store.