Mary C. GRAY

Mary Charlotte (Carter) Gray was born on July 5, 1941 in Dayton, Ohio to Bishop Owen L. Carter, a Pentecostal minister, and Charlotte Louise (Taylor) Carter, a loving mother and servant of God. She departed this earthly life on January 28, 2014; never to be "separated from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Mary Charlotte was one of eight children. She was baptized at an early age and knew God as her Lord and Savior. When the family moved to Newport, Kentucky, Mary Charlotte attended a segregated Lincoln-Grant High School. After Newport High School, also in Kentucky, was integrated in 1955, Mary Charlotte began attending there, along with her older brother, Owen (Leon) Carter, Jr and sister, Lois (Vonnie) (Carter) Crawford. They were among the first group of African American students enrolled at Newport High School during the height of the civil rights movement!

In high school, her passion for dance, choreography and singing were nurtured. She sang in the Newport High School Chorus. She also played the piano by ear. She later danced "Off Broadway" in New York City when she was about 31 years old. Can you say "talented…a quadruple-threat!"

Mary Charlotte was married in 1959 to Lewis Cummings in Cincinnati, Ohio. From this union, the couple co-parented Michael (Cummings) Carter, Darryl Cummings and gave birth to Glendora (Cummings) Wilson. They later divorced. Next, Mary Charlotte gave birth to her fourth child, Theresa Stevenson.

She met her second husband, Charles Thomas Otis Gray of Cincinnati, in 1969. Charles was a member of the United States Army Airborne "Ranger" Special Forces, a Vietnam War veteran & University of Cincinnati graduate. They were joined in holy matrimony in 1981and blessed with two children, Alcaviuos Cummings and Shandra Gray. Charles and Mary Charlotte were inseparable until he passed away on June 4, 2011.

Mary Charlotte leaves behind a host of loved ones, including her six children: Michael Carter, Daryl Cummings, Glendora (Cummings) Wilson, Theresa (Stevenson) Weaver (Josef), Alcaviuos Cummings and Shandra Gray. Among the children, Shandra Gray served as her mother's loving guardian, primary caregiver and faithful daughter until her day's end.

Mary Charlotte also is survived by her siblings as follows: Leon Carter (Bertie), Lois Yvonne Crawford, Helen Richmond (Roscoe), Bobby Carter, Desire' Brandon and Jonathan Carter; her other brother, Charles Carter died overseas. She has a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends as well. We will miss her infectious smile, laughter, sense of humor and style.

Family and friends are invited to a Visitation (11a) and Funeral (12p) - Monday, February 3, 2014 at New Friendship Baptist Church, 3212 Reading Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229.