Johnnie M (Starnes) Gray

Funeral services will be 1:00 pm, Saturday, December 21, 2024 at White Hill AME Zion Church in York, SC with Rev. LeCounte Nedab officiating. Burial will follow at Lakeview Memory Gardens in York, SC. 

The family will receive friends from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm prior to the service.

Mrs. Johnnie Mae Starnes Gray, of 511 California Circle, York, SC entered into eternal rest on Friday, December 13, 2024. Mrs. Gray was born January 18, 1939 in York County to the late Samuel and Mary (Allison) Starnes.

Mrs. Gray attended York School District schools and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1958. She attended Friendship Junior College and later graduated from Livingstone College, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Childhood Education. She later earned her Masters Degree in Education from Winthrop University.

Mrs. Gray was passionate about education and dedicated over 30 years of service before her retirement. She touched countless lives, inspiring and nurturing her students to achieve their full potential. Her legacy lives on through the many students she mentored and the lasting impact she made on her colleagues and educational community. As a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., she further showed her commitment to her community.

Johnnie Mae accepted Christ at an early age and joined White Hill AME Zion Church, where she was a faithful member of the choir, Director of the Buds of Promise, served as a deaconess and as a member of the Kitchen Committee. She was also a dedicated Sunday School teacher, a member of the Church Aide Society, and a church trustee. Mrs. Gray also served as a member of White Hill Chapter #350, Order of the Eastern Star.

Mrs. Gray was married to her college sweetheart, Folger B. Gray, and from that union three children were born: Barbara, Barry, and James.

Johnnie Mae is preceded in death by her husband, Folger Gray; her parents, Samuel and Mary Starnes; three brothers, Thomas “TJ” Starnes, Samuel Starnes, Jr., and James Starnes; three sisters, Margaret Starnes, Rose Kelly, and Sitrena S. Berry; two brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law.

Left to cherish her memory are her sons, James Gray (Bernita) of Catawba, SC and Barry Gray (Renee) of York, SC, and her daughter, Barbara Gray of Columbia, SC; seven grandchildren: Vershaw Gray, Charles Berry, Chrystal Caldwell, Olivia Gray, Martin Gray, Mackey McClannahan, and Erin Gray; six great-grandchildren; her siblings: Perry Starnes (Rita) of York, SC, Juanita Glenn of Chicago, IL, and Oliver M. Starnes of Lake City, SC; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, students and friends.

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