On Monday, April 24, 2017, God welcomed home a fine man, Dr. N. Turner Gray.
Dr. Gray was born in Gloucester, Va., to Stanley and Nellie Gray (both deceased) October 16, 1935. He had one sibling, a brother who was lost at sea in a plane crash in 1956. He was a graduate of Gloucester High School, Randolph Macon College and the Medical College of Virginia School of Medicine (1962).
Upon completing his residency in pediatrics, he moved with his family to Virginia Beach to open his medical practice. He was the first board-certified pediatrician in Virginia Beach. Before he could be joined by his future partner in medicine, Dr. Robert Mosby, he was drafted by the U.S. Navy and sent to Quonset Point, R.I., to serve his country for two years.
Returning to Virginia Beach, he joined Dr. Mosby in their lifelong partnership in the practice of Pediatric Medicine. During these years, he served as a local medical examiner for more than 40 years in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, working with the local police regarding death investigations. In this capacity, he taught at the police academy.
Dr. Gray was a member of the First Baptist Church of Virginia Beach and a longtime adviser to the Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad (Station 14) and served on the boards of the Virginia Beach Rescue Squad Foundation and the Virginia Beach Crime Solvers. He was honored by the Rotary Club as a Paul-Harris Fellow. He was also honored by the City of Virginia Beach by having December 17th declared Dr. N. Turner Gray Day.
As an avocation, he enjoyed helping out a friend by driving a tractor trailer over much of the country. He also enjoyed reunions with his Kappa Alpha fraternity brothers.
Professionally, he was a member of the American Medical Association, The American Academy of Pediatrics, The Medical Society of Virginia, The Virginia Beach Medical Society and the National Association of Medical Examiners. Dr. Gray was so fond of his patients and wore cowboy boots and displayed model trucks to amuse the little ones.
His survivors include his wife of 58 years, Sylvia Moore Gray; daughter, Laura Lynne Terveer (Bernie); son, Turner Gray Jr. (Mary); four grandchildren, Keely Anderson (Eric), Tucker Terveer, Gianna Cardone and Nicole Gray; and two great-grandchildren, Averie and Sadie.
A visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 28, at H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Laskin Road Chapel. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow in Eastern Shore Chapel Cemetery.
In honor of Dr. Gray, memorial donations may be made to the Virginia Beach Rescue Squad, 740 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA 23451; or Virginia Beach Crime Solvers, 2509 Princess Anne Road, #15, Virginia Beach, VA 23456.
Online condolences may be made to the family at hdoliver.com.
