About Her Life: Elsie Mae Gregory Wray of Chester, VA, passed away on May 24, 2026. She was born on March 16, 1936, in Grafton, York County, Virginia, to Clyde and Catherine Gregory.
At the age of thirteen, Elsie joined Grafton Baptist Church, where she actively participated in Sunday school classes, the Sunday School Union, the Junior Choir, and the Golden Age Committee.
Elsie graduated from James Weldon Johnson High School and later attended Newport News Peninsula Business College and Tidewater Learning Institute of Business Administration. She earned her CED certification from KinderCare International Learning Institute and her certifications in Business Management and Business Law from Stratford Career Institute. Additionally, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Agape Bible College in Jacksonville, FL.
With 28 years of experience in retail sales, Elsie held various management and customer service roles. Later, she distinguished herself in childcare services in Augusta, GA, and Chester, VA, earning Employer of the Quarter honors in both 2009 and 2010.
Ministry and Service: After getting married and moving to Williamsburg, she attended Mt. Ararat Baptist Church and First Baptist Church. Elsie was a woman of deep faith. In Augusta, GA. She engaged in street witnessing and participated in Discipleship Training at Straightway Full Gospel Church (now known as Emmanuel Covenant Center International). Elsie was licensed and ordained as an Evangelist at Kingdom Harvest Global Breakthrough Center in Williamsburg, VA, where she ministered to youth through Teenage Spiritual Awareness (TSA) and completed training in evangelism, leadership empowerment, spiritual warfare, and deliverance.
Elsie participated in and donated to many charities including: St. Jude Hospital, Feed the Children, The Covenant House, Salvation Army, Cancer Fund, Easter Seals, National Law Enforcement, Boys Towns, The Salesian Mission, DAV, and Smile of a Child.
Elsie’s Stated Mission: Elsie shared that her mission on earth was to teach, encourage, motivate, and empower people, helping them laugh and feel joyful, no matter their situation. People need to know, above all, that Jesus loves them because he sees, cares, hears, and understands their every need. Just trust in God. Proverbs 3:5-6.
Survivors: Brothers, William Gregory (Mary) and Thomas Lewis; godsisters, Lillie M. Brooks, Mildred T. Walker and June M Mead; children, Rodney J. Wray of Atlanta, GA, Paula S. Williams of Anchorage, AK, Jacquelyn W. Saunders (David) of Williamsburg, VA, Dexter E. Wray (Denise) of Mesa, AZ, Tony O. Wray of Atlanta, GA, Robert Patrick (Yolanda) of Anchorage, AK, and Melanie Stokes of Raleigh, NC; loving goddaughters, Ethel Woods, Vanessa Walker Cotman (John) and Barbara R. Davis (Michael); fifteen grandchildren, twenty-eight great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clyde and Catherine “Kathie” Gregory; brothers, Clyde Gregory, Charles Gregory, Irvin Gregory, and James Gregory; sisters, Lorrine Gregory, Catherine Cothran, Shirley Gregory, Sarah Louise Gregory, Josephine Smith, and Hattie Marie Gregory; and others of blessed memory.
Celebration: A service to honor and celebrate Elsie’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Grafton Baptist Church Harris Grove. Interment to follow in the Grafton Baptist Church Harris Grove Memorial Park. Evangelist Wray may be viewed from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday in the funeral home.
