U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Clarence J. Gray dies -- retired dean at UR
Aug 12, 2003
No one at the University of Richmond had to ask Clarence J. Gray to become a kind of unofficial ambassador for the university.
For the revered dean and professor, the role fit as well as his trademark brown dress hat.
"He stands for everything good about the University of Richmond," said his longtime friend, former student and Richmond College alumnus, John N. Moreau. "He was always a gentleman, a perfectionist, a leader and a scholar. It was the way he carried himself."
Dr. Gray, a former dean of students and dean of administration emeritus at UR, died Monday in Richmond. He was 95.
A 1933 Richmond College graduate, he returned as dean of students for the college in 1946 after leading education programs in the Navy and holding teaching positions at Columbia University and Queens College of New York.
Dr. Gray held a master's degree in Spanish from Columbia and a doctorate in education from the University of Virginia.
As dean of students, he organized the faculty advisor program and a program of student resident advisors.
He later served as dean of administrative services for the university and retired in 1979 as dean of administration. In the year of his retirement, he was awarded an honorary doctorate. His many accolades from the university also included the Alumni Award for Distinguished Service.
"Dean Gray was one of the legendary administrators in the university's history having made a remarkable impact on academic and student life here during his more than three decades of active service," said UR President William E. Cooper. "If you count his student days and the years after his retirement, his involvement in the University of Richmond stretched for nearly three-quarters of a century. He was a dear friend, and he will be greatly missed."
Beyond his work as an administrator and a professor of Spanish, Dr. Gray was for decades a familiar voice at campus sporting events as the public address announcer and was known to radio listeners as the quizmaster of the former "University of Richmond-WRNL Radio Scholarship Quiz."
The radio program, broadcast from various Virginia high schools in a 13-week series each year from 1951 to 1972, awarded scholarships to outstanding high school students. Dr. Gray was the show's host for 18 years.
For two decades was the public address announcer for the Southern Conference basketball tournament.
In retirement, he was special assistant to the president and later consultant to the chancellor. Former UR President and Chancellor Emeritus E. Bruce Heilman once call Dr. Gray "my left hand and my right hand."
A former national secretary for the leadership honor society Omicron Delta Kappa, he received an Outstanding Educators of America Award in 1972. At the 40-year reunion of his Richmond College class, classmates honored him by establishing the Clarence J. Gray Achievement Awards for Excellence in Scholarship and Leadership.
While he remained active in UR affairs throughout his retirement, he also pursued a love of dancing late in life, taking up tap lessons at age 84. He performed with a group that entertained at local nursing homes, dancing with a bit of assistance until just four years ago.
Dr. Gray was the widower of Jane Little Gray.
Survivors include four grandchildren.
A funeral will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Cannon Memorial Chapel on the campus of the University of Richmond. Burial will be private.
William Bailey Wilkinson
Dec 18, 2001
A graveside service for William Bailey Wilkinson, who served as secretary of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission for 32 years, will be Tuesday at noon in Holly Lawn Cemetery in Suffolk.
Mr. Wilkinson died Friday at his Richmond home.
A Windsor native, he graduated from the College of William and Mary with a major in economics and from the University of Richmond's T.C.
Williams Law School.
After serving in the Army Air Forces in the Pacific during World War II, he joined the ABC Board in 1949 as an assistant secretary. Five months later he was appointed secretary, a job in which he gave legal and administrative assistance to the three-member commission that oversees operations of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Betty Carlton Wilkinson.
Gladys Cauthorne White
May 17, 2003
Medical school would have been the preferred path for Gladys Cauthorne White.
"As a young, black women from a rural area, she just didn't have the resources," said her daughter, Bessida Cauthorne White, of Richmond.
Instead, Mrs. White turned her attention to opening doors for others as an educator in the Middle Peninsula.
Mrs. White, who had a second career as a funeral director with the family business, died Sunday. She was 90.
Her three decades of teaching included 13 years as a Jeanes supervisor in the schools of Mathews and Middlesex counties throughout the 1940s and early 1950s. That position was funded by the Anna T. Jeanes Fund, a private foundation that supported public education for blacks in rural areas.
In addition to her work as a supervisor, her work included teaching in one-room schoolhouses in Essex and King and Queen counties. She also taught secondary grades at schools in King William and Middlesex counties.
Mrs. White retired from teaching in 1966, after which she earned a funeral director's license.
She joined her husband, Randolph Cuyler White, in the operation of Tidewater Funeral Home in Jamaica. The couple owned the business in Middlesex County for more than 40 years, selling to a family member in 1994. The mortuary now operates under the name White-Tidewater Funeral Home.
Mrs. White maintained her funeral director's license until just before her death, her daughter said.
After graduating from the Rappahannock Industrial Academy in 1927, she earned a high school diploma from Virginia State High School a year later. She completed a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Virginia State College, now Virginia State University. Her post-graduate work included doctoral studies at Columbia University.
Mrs. White was a former chief elections officer in the Jamaica Magisterial District in Middlesex and a trustee of Angel Visit Baptist Church.
In addition to her husband and daughter, survivors include a granddaughter.
A funeral will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Angel Visit Baptist Church in Dunnsville. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
ALLEN
Cena J. Allen, age 89, of Richmond, died Friday, August 10, 2001. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Allen; three sons, Kenny, Leroy and Edward Allen. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Betty and Ralph Lee; her daughter, Carol Allen; daughter-in-law, Pat Allen; four grandchildren and their spouses, Ann and David Butler, Ricky and Diane Allen, Chris and Robin Lee and Lisa Gilmer; her great-grandchildren, Becky and Jessie Butler, Richie and Nicole Allen, Christopher, Hunter and Trevor Lee and Stephen Gilmer. Her remains rest at the Nelsen Funeral Home, 4650 S. Laburnum Ave., where the family will receive friends 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday and where funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Monday. Interment Washington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Henrico Volunteer Rescue Squad, Hospice of Central Virginia or the Samaritan Fund at The Hermitage of Richmond.
ANDERSON
Howard Ernest Anderson, 77, of New Canton, died Friday, August 10, 2001. Born October 23, 1923 in Buckingham County, he was the son of the late Herbert B. and Frances Davis Anderson. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Virginia Moss Anderson and a son, Ashley Howard Anderson of New Canton; a brother, Julian P. Anderson, Mullins, S.C.; two nieces, Susan Anderson, Richmond, Gale A. Thomas, New Canton; and a nephew, Julian P. Anderson Jr., Winston-Salem, N.C. Mr. Anderson was a lifetime member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, a veteran of World War II, a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart, and a retired employee of Dominion Virginia Power with 44 years of service. The family will receive friends this evening from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Colbert Funeral Home, Bremo Bluff, Va. A graveside funeral service will be conducted 4 p.m. Sunday at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery, New Canton. Rev. John Mann will officiate.
ANDERSON
Steven E. Anderson departed this life August 9, 2001. He is survived by two sons, Steven A. and Aaron E. Anderson; parents Marian D. and Harold L. Anderson Sr.; brother, Harold Anderson Jr.; sister, Sheree Anderson Slater; maternal grandmother, Nannie Duval; brother-in-law, Charles Slater; sister-in-law, Susan Anderson; devoted fiancee, Rose Brown; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Remains rest at The Chiles Funeral Home, 2100 Fairmount Ave., where funeral services will be conducted on Sunday, 11 a.m., with Dr. G.G. Campbell Sr. officiating. Interment Forest Lawn Cemetery. Guest book available at www.legacy.com.
AVERETTE
Bruce Lee "Hammer" Averette, 39, of Richmond passed away August 8, 2001. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Bessie and Charlie Averette. He is survived by his wife, Christina; children, Audi, Collin, Lauren and Catherine; sister, Joyce Weatherford and her husband, Pop; brothers, Rickie and his wife, Linda and Jimmie and his wife, Janis; and other nieces and nephews. His remains rest at the Bliley Funeral Home's Chippenham Chapel, 6900 Hull St. Rd. where the family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Graveside services will be held 10 a.m. Monday at Maury Cemetery.
BALES
Wesley H. Bales, 74, of Richmond, died Thursday, August 9, 2001. He is survived by his wife, Frances A. Bales; a sister, Jean B. Corden, of Goldsboro, N.C.; numerous nieces and nephews. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, a retired Realtor, and a member of the Hermitage Country Club. Friends may call 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Central Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, 3215 Cutshaw Ave. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Thomas Hospice, P.O. Box 2510, Midlothian, Va., 23113, or The American Lung Association.
BELVIN
Patricia Dyer Belvin, age 65, of Christiansburg, passed away Thursday, August 9, 2001, in a Richmond hospital. She was an account executive for United Insurance Co. She was preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin Holt and Fannie Mae Hutton Dyer; and also by a daughter, Judy Anderson. Survivors include two sons, Gary Vest of Richmond, William Holt Vest of Summerville, S.C.; one daughter, Debbie Vest of Richmond; seven grandchildren, Jesska Anderson, Luke Anderson, Sascha Vest, Jantzen Vest, William Dyer Vest, Bryan Vest and Bobbi Vest. Funeral services will be held Monday, August 13, 2001, at 10 a.m., at the Mullins Fuenral Home in Radford, with the Rev. Dennis Martin and Rev. Bobby Sutphin officiating. Interment will fololow in West View Cemetery in Radford. The family would like to give special appreciation to the oncology staffs at the New River Valley Medical Center and Johnston Willis Hospital in Richmond. The family will receive friends from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, August 12, 2001, at the Mullins Funeral Home in Radford.
BENNETT
Departed this life August 10, 2001, Arthur Bennett. Remains rest at the Chiles Funeral Home, 2100 Fairmount Ave. Notice of funeral later.
BROOKS
Alvin "Spook" Brooks Sr. of 5507 Jahnke Rd. departed this life Thursday, August 9, 2001. Remains rest at the Mimms Funeral Home, 19th and Hull Sts. Funeral notice later.
CLARK
Mildred H. Clark of Glen Allen passed away August 10, 2001. She was the widow of B.P. Clark and is survived by her son, William H. Clark and wife, Nancy; her daughters, Lucy C. Winkfield and Eleanor A. Clark; her sisters, Joni Sweeney and Eleanor Rennie and husband, Thomas; her grandchildren, David and Steve Clark and Susan White; and two great-grandchildren. Her remains rest at Bliley Funeral Home's Staples Mill Chapel, 8510 Staples Mill Road, where the family will receive friends Sunday 3 to 5 p.m. and where funeral services will be held Monday 11 a.m. Interment Riverview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer's Association, 4600 Cox Rd., Suite 130, Glen Allen, Va. 23060 or Greenwood United Methodist Church, 10040 Greenwood Rd., Glen Allen, Va. 23060.
DICKERSON
Departed this life August 8, 2001, Mr. Willie S. "Dick" Dickerson of 8481 Strath Rd.. Remains rest at Walter J. Manning Funeral Home, 700 N. 25th St.. Funeral notice later.
DYER
Died August 10, 2001, Earl Dyer Sr. of 653 Westover Hill Blvd. Remains rest at Joseph Jenkins Jr. Funeral Home, 2011 Grayland Ave. Funeral notice later.
EDWARDS
Kathleen
Jones (Kitty) Edwards, formerly of Richmond, went to be with the Lord August 9, 2001. She is survived by one daughter, Virginia E. Shrewsbury; six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren. Services will be held Monday, 1 p.m. in Thomson, Ga.
