Elizabeth Gray

Elizabeth Spencer Gray, October 2, 1922---December 29, 2015.  Elizabeth Spencer Gray, 93, of Durham, NC passed away peacefully at home, with family at her side, in the Florida Keys, early Tuesday, December 29, 2015.  Beth was born October 2, 1922 in Greenville, NC to the late Elizabeth and Percy Spencer.  She was a lifelong Episcopalian and founded the St. Luke’s Episcopal Kindergarten in Durham, NC, where she taught and which she directed for over fifty years, retiring in 2007, at the age of 85.  During that time, she positively influenced thousands of students, parents, and teachers with her loving mentoring and guidance.  In 2007, the governor of North Carolina, Michael Easley, conferred upon her The Order of the Long Leaf Pine in recognition of her “integrity, learning and zeal” during her long and innovative career in early childhood education.  She was preceded in death by her son, Spencer Brantley Gray.  She is survived by her children, Dr. Frank Gray and wife, Anna Gray of Knoxville, TN; Betsy Gray of Durham, NC; John Gray of Sanford, NC; and Cindy Gray of Tavernier, FL; nine grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren, also her sister, Anne Preslar and husband, Seth Preslar, and numerous other loving family members and caring friends.  In lieu of flowers, donations for scholarships in memory of Beth Gray can be made via check to “Grey Stone Preschool and Kindergarten” at 2601 Hillsborough Rd., Durham, NC 27705, where Beth’s teaching program and philosophy continue.