[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11932]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF MR. ELISHA GRAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 9, 2007

  Mr. CONYERS. Madam. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of a man who 
may be little known to the Nation, but one who is a treasure to the 
City of Detroit. Elisha Z. Gray, born on May 1, 1917 in Arlington, TN, 
right outside of Memphis, celebrated his 90th birthday last week.
  At the age of 18, Mr. Gray left Arlington in search of a new life in 
bustling Detroit. For the next 9 years, he worked on the automobile 
assembly lines of the famous Packard Plant on East Grand Boulevard. On 
many occasions during those years, he served as a butcher in Detroit's 
historic Eastern Market.
  It was not until 1944 when Elisha received his barbers' license from 
Michigan Barber College, that he evolved into his true calling. Since 
black subjects were not allowed at his school, his first opportunity to 
cut a black man's hair came in 1945 when he opened the Family Barber 
Shop on the corner of Hazelett and Milford. In fact, I remember my 
father John Conyers, Sr. being one of his loyal customers when we lived 
around the corner from his shop on Colfax.
  The Family Barber attracted some of Detroit's most powerful and 
influential citizens, most of whom came from the west side of Detroit. 
Mr. Gray not only served his more distinguished clientele, but he was 
equally inviting to his everyday customers from the neighborhood. The 
Family Barber was the centerpiece that allowed the two worlds to 
intersect. His shop was also used as a training ground for other young 
black African-American barbers who would have their first experience 
cutting hair for blacks. In addition, he sponsored various athletic 
teams which enabled the neighborhood youth to get involved in 
constructive recreational activities, and encouraged them to stay off 
the streets and out of trouble.
  I was sad to hear that Elisha sold the Family Barber in 1972, but it 
came as no surprise that he was already pursuing a new venture. Soon, 
he became a real estate agent, then a broker and soon after, he 
established E.Z. Gray & Sons Realtors on Puritan in Detroit. Although 
he has long retired from the real estate business, he still continues 
to work in the field even today.
  He has been instrumental in inspiring and encouraging youth, and 
especially the young men of Detroit to follow their dreams and overcome 
life's challenges. He is still engaged in a lifelong passion of getting 
all citizens registered and voting in all elections, both local and 
national.
  Elisha Gray is married to Mrs. Labada Elizabeth Gray with whom he 
celebrated 65 years of marriage with on May 5, 2007. They have three 
children, seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. He also 
currently serves as Chair of the Deacon Board at the Northwest Church 
of God in Detroit.
  So, Madam Speaker, I am deeply honored to celebrate the 90th birthday 
of a friend, a brother, and a living Detroit legend, Mr. Elisha Z. 
Gray.

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