Harriet Gray's life merits celebration
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
BY SUZANNE LOUDAMY Staff writer

Deborah Burkett hosted Harriet Gray's 90th birthday party

The social butterflies were all a flutter Saturday as they congregated at Aunt Lillie's on Saturday in Troup.

Well known to the community of Henry's Chapel, Troup and the First Baptist Church, Harriet Gray was surprised by her family and friends with an afternoon of stories, songs and smiles as everyone celebrated Harriet's 90th birthday.

The former Miss Styles met Donald Gray of Troup in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. She met him through a friend and they wrote letters back and forth for two years while he was in the service in Panama. In 1937, Harriet married her Jack, as she called him, and they moved home to Troup.

Troup was home to Jack, but like a foreign country to Harriet.

"She was a Yankee coming into a plantation atmosphere," son Don Gray said. "The deep south was a completely different world to her."

Except for the WWII years that were spent in the Houston shipyards, the Grays spent their lives farming, welding and raising cattle in Henry's Chapel.

Harriet Gray was literally surrounded by friends and family Saturday to celebrate her 90th birthday at Aunt Lillie's in Troup. The afternoon was filled with laughter and smiles.

Those who know Harriet know that she is a head-strong and independent woman. It was early on in the days of wedded bliss when Harriet got tired of waiting on her beloved husband and father-in-law to fix up a house on the Gray property for the young couple to live in. At the time they were living with her in-laws. Word came from a realtor in town that the young Mrs. Gray had been in looking for a suitable home for her and her husband. The men were quickly prompted to get busy on the old rental house to make it the new home for the couple.

Along with her independence comes "get up and go." If there is a job to get done, give it to Harriet.

According to Don, she was one of the first women to complete the Southern Baptist Convention's training and certification for nursery workers. She was a nursery superintendent and traveled all around teaching others the training taught to her through the national Baptist organization.

Along with her precise and diligent care of the youngest church members was her investment in the future of the boys in Henry's Chapel. She was a cub scout leader for 15 boys.

"Those leadership skills have stayed with me my whole life," Don said.

Harriet lost her Jack in 1989.

"She stayed by his side, caring for him the whole time," daughter-in-law Shelba Gray said. "She did that for her parents and her in-laws as well. She's an extremely caring person, always thinking of others."

Harriet is keeping herself busy these days, as she has done for several years, heading up the Forerunners of the First Baptist Church of Troup. The Forerunners is a senior adult group that meets once a month to enjoy fellowship, a good Baptist covered lunch and to hear a speaker.

"I know it's hard for some folks to get out and come, but it's really important that we get together and enjoy each other's company," Harriet said. "I'll keep doing this as long as I can or until I can talk someone else into doing it. It's just really important."

She has also taught the senior adult couples class for many years and up until the closing of the Westwood Convalescent Center in December of 2007, she was there every Thursday to teach the same lesson she taught at church on Sundays. Then she would return on Fridays to offer a devotion.

Harriet still lives on her own, remember that independent streak, between her sons Don and Doug. She is grandmother to two grandsons and greatgrandmother to one great grandson and one great granddaughter.

While she was totally surprised and a bit flustered at first about all the goings on Saturday, making such a fuss over her birthday. But it wasn't long before she just smiled and laughed and enjoyed the company of those who love her, her friends and her family. Happy birthday Harriet!