Patricia Mae Newman Gray

On August 16, 2025, Patricia Newman Gray, age 88, of Drexel, NC, passed away at UNC Health Blue Ridge after three years of declining health with her loving family by her side. Mrs. Gray was born October 11, 1936, in Duluth, MN, to the late Leo and Rebecca Newman. At the age of eight, her family relocated to Philadelphia, PA, where, with her father, she gained an intense love of professional baseball. She grew up near the old Connie Mack Stadium and loved watching the Philadelphia A’s, later the Phillies. She was lucky enough to see legend Jackie Robinson play against the Phillies.

She went on to graduate early from Dobbins Technical High School in Philadelphia and then worked for the City of Philadelphia Board of Education.

In 1957, she married her true love, Robert “Bob” Gray, who predeceased her on August 20, 1996.

The Gray family moved from Philadelphia to Lenoir, NC, in 1978, where she worked at Woolworths in the old Lenoir Mall. She later volunteered at Burke Hospice in Valdese for fifteen years.

She was the baby sister to the late Eleanor (George) Newman Meistrell and Robert (Joan) Newman. She was also predeceased by her dear friend Alma Nelson, who passed on August 14, 2009.

Surviving are her daughters, Vonna Gray Johnson of Conover, and Sharon Gray Nelson (Bobby) of Drexel, and son, Royce Gray of Statesville. She is also survived by her loving grandsons, Benjamin (Meghan) Johnson of Rutherford College; Christopher (Brenda) Johnson of Chesapeake, VA; Kurtis (Samantha) Nelson of Kannapolis; the apple of her eye, Jeffrey Nelson of Drexel; and her special cousin, Nancy Duehn of Bellevue, WA. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind her fur baby, Kitty.

A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 11 AM in the Chapel of Heritage Funeral Service with Pastor Kevin Crawford officiating. Interment will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens of Lenoir.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 10 AM to 11 AM at Heritage Funeral Service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Nelson Family Current Scholarship through the Appalachian State University Foundation, PO Box 32064, Boone, NC 28608-2064. It is a scholarship set up for any student-athlete or cheerleader majoring in Special Education.

Heritage Funeral Service & Crematory is assisting the family.