Beverly Jean Gray

A baby girl was born in Duncan, Oklahoma on the 3rd day of

September, in the year of 1945. Gertie and Samuel L. King, Sr. were the

proud parents and they named their daughter, Beverly Jean King.

In 1948, the family relocated to Fort Worth, Texas and Beverly

attended the Fort Worth Independent School District at Milton L.

Kirkpatrick Jr. and Sr. High School. She later attended Prairie View A

& M University and during her time in California she received her Early

Childhood Education degree from Mira Costa College.

Beverly met James Alton Gray and a courtship evolved. They were

united in Holy Matrimony and were a loving family for 53 years until

the Lord called James home in 2017. Four children were born to this

union, Yvette, Jamey, Tinisha and Samuel. Being a Military wife, they

moved to Oceanside, California in 1969 where they resided for twenty

years. After James retired, the family moved back to Texas in 1985. She

resided in Fort Worth for 31 years until her health began to fail and she

moved to Atlanta, Georgia with her daughter.

Beverly accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized. She was

a committed member of Morning Star New Testament Church (which

was later renamed Star of Bethlehem Sanctuary) for over 25 years. After

returning to the Fort Worth area in 1985, Beverly or Mama Gray as she

has been affectionately called, served in many areas of the church under

the leadership of the late Pastor Ernest Sargent, III. Whatever capacity

or ministry Pastor Sargent needed her, she faithfully served. Those roles

include: Head of the Usher Board, Deaconess, Director of Children’s

Church, and respected as a Mother of the Church. She also played a major

part in the Women’s Ministry where she was famous for her deviled eggs

and her fruit punch (that was lovingly called her “power punch”). Sis

Gray’s loyalty and love for her pastor and church family was unyielding.

On Monday, March 11, 2024, Beverly Jean King-Gray, transitioned

from “time into Eternity” in Atlanta, Georgia. She was preceded in death

by her husband, James Alton Gray; father, Samuel King, Sr.; mother,

Gertie Mae King and aunt, Eula Mae Cunningham.

Those left to celebrate a well spent life are: her children, Yvette

Gray-Wayne (Anson), Denise Dacosta, Tinisha Thomas and Samuel

Gray; grandchildren, Shanique Randolph (Roger), Markita Berry,

Adron Berry, Andrea Brown (Gary), Ashley Dacosta, Brandon Dacosta,

Anthony Gay, DeAndre Thomas, Janee Thomas, Paris Gray, Sam

Gray, Jr., Sam A. Gray, Jayden Gray and Dequalen Gray; sister, Mary

Catherine King-Christopher; brother-in-law, Larry Christopher; sister-

in-law, LaVonna Daniels; cousins, Marsha Cunningham, Mary Claudin

Cunningham, Dena Miles-Nelson (Marvel, Sr.), and Patricia Langley;

niece, Ternassia Dokes; and a host of great-grandchildren cousins and

other relatives and friends.

PROOF