Mary Gran is honored to have as one of our Assisted Living patients, Mr Edward Gray.
Gray was born in Stokes County but has lived in Sampson co since 1947. He was married to the late Edna Gray. Together they had one daughter. He enjoys his three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
He received his education in Walnut Cove, N.C. A distinct honor he remembers from elementary school was winning the county wide spelling bee. After graduation from high school, he attended A&T College in Greensboro pursuing a degree in agricultural education. This was interrupted by the bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. He was deployed there after being drafted into the Navy. Gray served in the Asiatic Pacific at the time the atomic bomb was dropped. After the war he completed his education. He was president of the Agriculture Association, a member of the Collegiate Chapter of New Farmers of America, and a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He worked on the college farm with poultry and swine. He was also the ice cream maker for the dairy department supplying the campus cafeteria.
After graduation his first job was with the Veterans Farming Training Program in Roseboro. As an instructor, he provided returning veterans with agricultural instruction and methods in a school setting and practical applications on their farms. He moved to Garland as a teacher of agriculture and later to Clear Run High school with the consolidation of Bland and Garland High Schools. Gray took a two year leave of absence from the classroom to initiate and direct the federal Neighborhood Youth Corps Program for Sampson County Schools. Over 400 youth participated in the program which provided work experiences in educational and government institutions year round.
Gray has served as Trustee at Sampson Regional Medical Center for 12 years, executive committee for the hospital, Sampson County Board of Health for six years, vice chairman of the Board of Health, District Committee to select the North Carolina Teacher of the year, secretary for the North Carolina Agricultural Teacher Association, president of the Sampson County Teachers Association and numerous other organizations and committees.
Gray purchased 200 acres in the Clear Run Community, built the first tobacco bulk curing barn in the county by a minority and possibly the first in the state. He also built the newest type hog house that was coming in vogue.
Gray has been a very busy man. He has used his talents God gave him. When asked if he thought the Lord would say “well done my good and faithful servant” He responded- Well that will be up to him.
“I feel my most satisfying accomplishment has been serving the lives that I have been privileged to touch, succeed in life and at the same time recognize from whence they came,” Gray said.
At Mary Gran we recognize our patients as people and not just referrals. We are aware they had lives before they selected our facility. And for that reason, it is a privilege to have Mr. Edward Gray in our Assisted Living at Mary Gran Nursing and Rehab.
Mary Gran Nursing and Rehab offers Short Term, Long Term and Assisted Living to residents of Sampson and surrounding areas. Please contact Lisa Honeycutt, RN at 910-214-9183 or Karen Carter, Admissions Director at 910-592-7981.