Mary Charles McCray

Mary Charles James McCray - a radiant beacon of love and strength, graced this world with her presence on May 16, 1941, in the warm community of Ashford, Alabama, after a life rich with laughter, love, and unwavering faith, she took her heavenly rest in the same loving town on January 22, 2025. Mary's journey through life was a testament to the power of positivity and the influence one person can have on so many lives.

From her early acceptance of Christ, Mary lived a life of devout service. She was a cherished pillar of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, where her voice uplifted spirits in the choir, her hands welcomed many as part of the Usher Board, and her dedication shone through her work with the Youth and in the kitchen. Her commitment to her faith and community set a sterling example of how to live a life that echoes beyond one's own years.

Education was a cornerstone of Mary's life, and she championed learning within her family and community. Her own educational journey through the Dothan City School System equipped her with the knowledge and skills she used to navigate life's challenges and nurture her family's growth.

Mary's professional life was marked by dedication and hard work. She spent years contributing her talents to the latex company Atwell, that later became Ansell Incorporated and later worked at Sony, where her colleagues became yet another extension of her vast family. Even as her health began to wane, Mary's spirit never dimmed, and her influence in the workplace remained as impactful as ever.

As Maya Angelou once said, "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Mary embodied this sentiment, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of those she touched. Her ability to make each person she encountered feel valued and loved is perhaps her most extraordinary achievement.

In every facet of her life, Mary Charles James McCray was a motivational force, a woman whose very essence encouraged others to strive for greatness, to love deeply, and to serve with a joyful heart. She was the epitome of a life well-lived, and her memory will continue to inspire those who had the privilege of knowing her.

Mary's family was the cornerstone of her existence. Though she was preceded in death by: Robert Earl James and Francis Ennis James and Stepmother Dorothy James; her husband Johnny McCray Sr; her daughters: Mary Jean and Mary Delores McCray; her grandson: Willie Jerome Jr.; her granddaughter: Gwendolyn Michelle Sanders; her son-in-law: Alfred Freeman; and her siblings: Dorothy James, Betty Bighem, Francis Walker, David James, Kenneth James, Rosie McCoy, and Celeste Kirkland.

Her legacy is carried on through those she leaves behind. Her children: Barbara (Jerome) Sanders, and Sharon (Michael,) Black Sr., both of Dothan, Alabama, Benita Freeman of Ashford, Alabama, Jacqueline (Gregory) Amos of Wicksburg, Alabama, Ruby Jewel of Webb, Alabama, Ronnie (Kristie) McCray, Douglas McCray, all of Birmingham, Alabama, Christopher McCray of Los Angeles, California and Heath McCray, Sr. of Springville, Alabama - stand as a living tribute to the love she and her late husband, Johnny McCray, Sr., cultivated throughout their marriage, which began with a promise in 1957. The immense love they shared blossomed into a family that now spans generations, including forty-two (42) grandchildren, ninety-four (94) great-grandchildren, and twenty-five (25) great-great-grandchildren, each a star in the vast sky of her legacy. Her siblings - Arminder Saffold, Carolyn Kelley, and Channie (Alexander) Johnson all of Dothan, Alabama, Robert ( Doretha) James of Dothan, Alabama, Lewis (Glenda) James of Auburn, Alabama, Gary (Pat) James of Midland City, Alabama, Timothy (Helena) James of Jonesboro, Georgia, and Phillip (Edwina) James of Douglasville, Georgia, along with her honorary sister: Gracie McCoy of Hartford, Alabama and her honorary nieces and nephews: Teresa Robinson, Shelia Fain, Bobby Stokes, John (Mildred) Fain, Larry (Leigh) Fain, and Maurice Brown. She had a unique bond with her bonus children: Melissa Newton, Kenny Collins, and Derrick Smith. Her lifelong friends: Lucinda Edwards, Addie Allen, Bessie South, and Pearl Telfair.

As we reflect on Mary's life, let us carry forward her spirit of generosity, her commitment to family and faith, and her unwavering optimism. Her story is not one of an end but a continuing legacy that will ripple through the lives she touched for generations to come. Mary Charles James McCray, a life beautifully lived, a soul profoundly cherished, will forever be remembered as a guiding light and an emblem of love's enduring power.

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