Rev. Gregory Raphael Gray

Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2013 from 9-11:00 A.M. at First A.M.E. Church, 1111 N. 8 Street, Kansas City, Kansas.

Religious Service will follow at 11:00 A.M. at the Church

Reverend Gregory Raphael Gray was born November 10, 1949 in Rockford, Illinois.  He was the oldest child of  Bernice (Walters) and Joe Gray Gregory and was preceded in death by his parents, paternal and maternal grandparents, and a brother, Travis Gray.

Reverend Gregory R. Gray grew up and attended public schools in Rockford, Illinois.  He graduated from Auburn High School in1968; attended Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois and graduated from the Slidell Baptist Seminary in 2000, while in undergraduate school, he became a member of Omega Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. 

In 1976, Gregory married Sharon Gray.  To that union, Antwone, Brandi, Raphael, and Robert Gray were born.  The marriage was dissolved.   In 1983, Gregory married Michelle Edwards and to that union Anton Johnson and Garcelle Gray were born.  The marriage was also dissolved.  In 1994, Gregory married “the wind beneath his wings,” the former Cynthia Wilson Aron and they became a blended family with her children, Felicia and Roosevelt Aron.    

Reverend Gray moved to Kansas City in 1982.  He was an accomplished counselor.  He was an advocate by serving the community as a counselor striving to improve behaviors by encouraging young men and women to live a drug free life, a life free of crime, and a life of loving themselves.  His career included:  Martin House- Rockford, Il, McCune School for Boys, Drum Farm, DeLaSalle, Adolescent Treatment Center (ATP), Cedar Ridge Treatment Center, Renaissance West, and Dismas House under the leadership of the late Reverend Thornton, Victim Assistance program for Kansas City, Kansas, Dismas House, and 3H House of Hope.  

Reverend Gregory R. Gray started his mission to service the Lord as Itinerant Deacon under the leadership of Reverend Mark Smith; St. Paul A.M.E., Kansas City, Kansas.  He was licensed to preach as well as ordained as a Minister.   He was assigned to St. James A.M.E. Church, Lawrence, Kansas under the direction of then Presiding Elder L. C. Drew.  During his tenure at St. James, he participated in many activities in the Lawrence community.   Reverend Gray founded Christ’s Church of Second Chances in June, 2006.  He was extremely passionate about serving the Lord and sharing the love of a Living God.  Some of his themes were:  “Ain’t No Shame in my Game when I praise the Lord” and “I will praise the Lord in season and out of season.”  “If I have to preach in a telephone booth, I will preach the Word.”  The church motto is: “I may not be all that I want to be, but thank God I’m not what I used to be:  Thank God for Second Chances.”
Reverend Gray was a member of Greystone Lodge #2 International Masons.  

His passion was writing:  poetry, short stories, and plays.   He was proud of his handwriting and wrote everything in long hand. 

Reverend Gray’s professional career has been a life of serving the people.  He was driven to help others change their life to live a righteous life and love the Lord.
His journey on earth ended on April 19, 2013, when his heavenly life began.  

Reverend Gray is survived by his devoted and loving wife, Cynthia; siblings, Gilbert (Tonya) Gray, Karen, Corliss, Paula Gray all of Rockford, Illinois; children, Antwone (Renee’), Brandi, Raphael and Robert Gray of Rockford, Illinois; Anton Johnson and Garcelle Gray of Kansas City,  Felicia Aron, PhD, of Wichita, Kansas and Roosevelt Aron of Ft. Worth, Texas; 26 grandchildren and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, other family and friends. 
He touched many lives and will be greatly missed by all.
 

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