[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 16, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E43-E44]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING WARDELL GRAY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 16, 2018

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable person, Mr. Wardell Gray.
  Wardell Gray was born June 30, 1917 as the eldest son and first of 
two sons of Mr. Will Gray and Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Otis Gray in Carson, 
Mississippi. There was an older sister, Willa Mae, the first born who 
died of lockjaw at the age of 10. The year he was born, his father was 
a Foreman with the Illinois Central Railroad, and they lived for a 
number of years in Sumrall, MS where his parents operated a boarding 
house for the other men who worked under his father. Gray was exposed 
to hard work in the area of farming and business at an early age. Upon 
their return to Jefferson Davis County, his mother was the teacher in a 
one room school house on the grounds of the Holisday Creek M.B. Church.
  Due to the fact that there was no school for blacks, he completed 8th 
Grade education there and continued his high school education at 
Prentiss Institute Junior College. He was a good student and an awesome 
athlete as a Baseball Pitcher with one of the Old Negro Leagues. His 
father Will Gray passed away at the age of 110 years of age and his 
mother Mary at age 97.
  Gray was drafted in the U.S. Army on November 19, 1941 and fought in 
World War II in the following battles and campaigns: Naples-Foggia, 
Rome Arno, Rhineland, and Central Europe. He received the American 
Defense Service Medal, ATO Medal, Good Condition Medal, Meritorious 
Unit Award and the Wold War II Victory Medal. He returned back to his 
home from the Army on October 31, 1945.
  While away at War, his parents were acquiring land. Upon his return, 
his dream was to do the same and continue his love for farming. In 
completing this vision, he met and married the love of his life, 
Quillie Ross Gray. She was a graduate of Jackson State University and 
continued out of state at Indiana University to obtain a master's 
degree. He was one of the first blacks to open a Dairy during the late 
40s. His Uncle, Dr. J.R. Otis was President of Alcorn College. With 
this relationship to the college, students who were Agriculture majors 
would travel to Gray Farms to intern.
  As a civil rights activist, Gray was involved in fighting for voter 
registration, and an avid and ardent supporter of the 1964 Civil Rights 
act. In 1959, he was the first black candidate to run for any type of 
public office; Constable for his district, Beat 2. He would later run 
for Election Commissioner. He became President of the Jefferson Davis 
Chapter of NAACP in 1959 and would remain through 1974. He picketed 
local stores and other national franchises regarding employment 
discrimination practices. Gray worked tirelessly with other civil 
rights giants such as Medgar and Charles Evers, Fannie Lou Hamer, Rev. 
Darby, Dr. Aaron Henry, his cousin, Charles Young and many others known 
and unknown.
  As a member of Blackmon Temple CME Church, Gray brought his love of 
God, education, and children together, for it was during the civil 
rights movement that meetings of the NAACP, Mississippi Freedom 
Democratic Party, Mississippi Action for Progress (MAP) were held at 
churches throughout the State. He along with Mr. N.J. Booth was 
instrumental in acquiring the land for the first black school in 
Jefferson Davis County, Carver High.
  Wardell Gray and his family suffered many attacks in his life, cross 
burnings, a barn burned to the ground with 3,000 bales of hay destroyed 
and on and on, but it did not stop him from fighting for civil rights. 
He partnered with the Lawrence County Branch of the NAACP to ensure the 
hiring of African Americans at St. Regis Paper Company (Now Georgia 
Pacific).
  His wife was fired from the school system briefly due to Rev. Darby 
and Gray filing the lawsuit against the poll tax for the right to vote. 
Gray formed biracial committees to tackle the troubles in the county--
such as colored and white separate waiting rooms at medical clinics.
  When the NAACP was sued for millions of dollars, he was in the 
forefront of fund raising to assist the National Branch in meeting 
their need. He was the first black to be appointed under President 
Jimmy Carter to serve on the ASC Committee.
  Volumes could be written about the number of people Gray counseled, 
inspired, encouraged and helped along in their lives. Gray will be 
remembered as a gentleman, friend, and servant; lover of his family, 
community and his God.
  The loves of his life were his two children and his grand- and great-
grandchildren. He was a mentor to many children in the community and 
beyond. Gray leaves to cherish his memory his children: Dr. Pene' Gray 
Woods (Curtis) of Cordova, TN; Joseph Willie (Sheryl) Gray of 
Hattiesburg, MS, grandchildren Christopher (Lynsi), and Dominic, Joseph 
Jr., Jayla,

[[Page E44]]

Kyle Meyers, Joseph and Ashley Smith; great-grandchildren Caitlyn, 
Chris II, and Dominic II.

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