The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1921-07-15
JOAN N. CRAY SR,
ONE OF LARGEST
FARMERS ISDEAD
WELL. KNOWN OWNER or "GREY.
MERE" DIES AFTER AN ILL., 7
NESS or ONLY FEW DAYS.
DISAPPOINTMENT IN BUSINESS
Was Owner, OF One Of the Most Mag.
nlhceht Estates in the County
WhsreHe spent Ills Summers Tor
Many Years---Euried lin Nashville.
h Mondays Daily Herald

L CFf0m Mondays Daily Herald)
john M. Gray, Sr, member of a
we'll known Tennessee family and him.
self distinguished throughout the
state fer his many pleasing personal
qualities and his business achieve
ments, died Saturday afternoon at
$3.50 o'clock at his home "Graymere,,"
near Columbia, after sudden illness
that hogan on Friday afternoon. Mr..
Gray had been on his farm since early
April and his health had seemed to be
very much iNAroved, fact that will
make his sudden death come as an es,
pecial shock to his host of friends In
this state and the South
Mr.. Gray began his very successful
business career In 1858, when ne be.
came associated WITH the firm Of Fall
& Cunningham, Witch was later nerg.
ed with the GraylKffkman Co., MI
Gray becoming member Of the firm
at that time. After the Gray Kirk.
man Co became known as the Gray
Fall Co. Mr.. Gray was the active
head and presiding genius of the con
Germ for many years until its c0nson
dation with Dudley Bros Co., and the
formation of the present Gray-Dudley
Co. In 1885,, At that time Mr.. Gray
retired from active service on account,
of iii health, but he remained senior
director and 1t was largely through
his wisdom and good Judgment that
the company grew to its present posi-
ton Of one of the largest and most
prosperous in the South.
Mr.. Gray was born in Sumner coun.
ty, near Gallatin, in November, 1897,
and was married in 1867 to Miss Elvi.
ra Dale Pillow, daughter of General
Jerome 3. and Elvira Dale Pillow of
Maury county. His wife died In june,
1920, and Mr.. Gray had never recover
ed from the SHOCK of her death. For
many years Mr.. Gray had made. his,
home In Nashville at 12l Eighth ave.
nue., south, but had made practice OF
spending the summers on his farm
near Columbia, since he retirement
from active business.
Surviving Mr.. Gray are a son, John
M Gray, Jr, of Nashville; "a brotherg
Frank Gray, a sister, Mrs. l.. f.. Doc,
little, two grand children, Mrs. Joe B.
Palmer and Mrs. Emmett Cooper, Jr..
and two great grand children, Joe B.
Palmer, Jr., and John Gray Palmer
all of Nashville. Mr.. Gray's only
daughter, Miss Annie Pillow Gray,
married DR.. j. w. Maddin. and her
death took place, some yeaors ago.
Miss Reba Wilson Gray, whose I'M
timely death on Oct. Is, 1918 was such
shock to Nashville, was also grand
daughter of Mr.. Gray.
The body of Mr.. Gray arrived in
Nashville over the Louisville & Nash
Vile railroad Monday morning and
was conveyed to his home at 121
Eighth avenue, south. Funeral SER
vices fill be conducted from the resi-
dence at 4 o'clock Monday afternoon
by DR.. James Vance, of the First
Presbyterian church. Interment will
be at Mt. Olivet cemetery. ..a IL.
The following friends will serve as
pail bearers; R. NJ. Dudley, Houston
Dudley, VIII C. Pollard, j. 7, Jenkins,
H. T. Hill, w. A. Griswold, R. M. Will
son, Judge John A. Pitts, Edwin War
ner, Edward Buford Edf2ps Jolles and
R. T. Wilson. III Nlfy;iIuH
The following named acted as pail
bearers in fGolmnh3u Ahsfew fptae
Robert MCKINNEY, Ties 9eatrnan,' J.
D. Dobbins, c. A. Parker and E. L.
Armstrong.