James Stanley Gray

James Stanley Gray, 88 of Jonesboro went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House. James had lived in Jonesboro for over 61 years after moving here from Imboden. He was a member of the Walnut Street Baptist Church since 1954. He loved his church and his Sunday school class and was very active in leading souls to Christ. He taught Sunday school for more than 25 years. James graduated from Lynn High School in 1945. He then attended Arkansas State College and graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.

James was drafted to his country’s service in 1950, during the Korean War. He received the Korean service Medal, one Bronze Campaign Star, the Japan Occ Medal, the United Nations Service Medal and a Purple Heart. He did his basic training in Fort Chaffee and his advanced training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He returned from his Korean duty back to the United States in 1952 and joined the Army Reserve. After 14 years in the Army Reserve, he went to work for the US Post Office. He had a distinguished career with the Post Office and retired in 1989. After his retirement he continued to work as a surveyor at the Civilogic Engineering in Jonesboro and retired in his early 80’s.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Ida Mae Stokes Gray; sons, James Gray Jr. of Dallas, David Gray of Jonesboro; Todd Gray of Little Rock, daughter Janie Gray Yielding (Butch) of Jonesboro; sister, Wyleen Crider of Little Rock and a grandson, Joshua Bryant Yielding of Jonesboro, a host of family, friends, and his faithful black lab, D-Day.

Funeral services will be 2:00 PM, Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at Walnut Street Baptist Church with Dr. Glen Putman, Curtis Shatley and Jerry Parker officiating and Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Burial will follow at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery with Todd Gray, Josh Weeist, Danny Burns, Joe Pierce, Grey Falanga, Josh Yielding and Charles Harlan serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are members of his Sunday School Class, Fishers of Men. Visitation will be from 5-7 Monday night at Emerson Funeral Home.

For lasting memorials, please consider Walnut Street Baptist Church, 1817 Scenic Drive, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401.