MELINDA POOLE GRAY

June 6, 1954 - February 19, 2021

Melinda Poole Gray, age 66, beloved wife and mother, passed from this life to the next on Friday, February 19, 2021, after a short illness. A private Memorial Service was held for the family in the sanctuary of Perry United Methodist Church on Sunday, February 21. 2021. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations in Melinda’s memory to The Westfield Schools, P. O. Box 2300, Perry, GA 31069, or Perry United Methodist Church, Family Life Center Building Fund, 1002 Carroll Street, Perry, GA 31069. Melinda was born in Macon, GA, and the family moved to Perry in 1963. She graduated from The Westfield Schools in 1972, attended Valdosta State College, and graduated from Wesleyan College in 1976. Later, she obtained a Master’s Degree in Education from Georgia Southwestern State University. Melinda taught in the elementary grades at Westfield for a total of 31 years, but took some time off from her teaching career to be a “stay at home mom” when Abby and Anna were young. She retired in 2019. No one ever worked harder than Melinda at being a good teacher, or loved the children more. After having been raised by her parents as a staunch Baptist, Melinda married into Methodism and was an active member of the Perry United Methodist Church, where she was an enthusiastic participant in the Women’s Bible Study Group and a member of the Christadelphian Sunday School Class. She was formerly a long-time member of the Sogadera Club, where she enjoyed the company and companionship of her “sisters” in that ladies’ civic organization. Melinda dearly loved reading, the English language, correcting folks on their use of the same, and pointing out punctuation mistakes by others. She enjoyed being outdoors, working in the yard, planting flowers, and walking (and trying to get Mike to walk with her). She treasured the times eating out at her “favorite” restaurants and going – either to the mountains, the beach, or most anywhere else. She loved the annual family beach trip, big family Christmases and decorating for the occasion, making chocolate chip cookies for everyone, spending time with her beloved family, and attending UGA sporting events. Left to cherish the memories they made with Melinda are her loving and devoted husband of nearly 44 years, Michael G. Gray; her daughters, Abigail G. Vaughan (Leif) of Douglasville, GA, and Anna K. Gray of Athens, GA; her grandsons, Grayson Seyfred, Bryant Vaughan, and bonus-grandson, Luke Vaughan; her mother, Helen T. Poole; her sisters, Araminta P. Almand (Charles), of Canton, GA, and Kimberly P. Nall (Tim), of Marietta, GA; her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Wanda B. and William G. Gray, Jr., of Perry; her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Robyn G. and Mitchell Beene, of Chattanooga, TN; and many beloved nieces and nephews. Melinda was predeceased by her father, Joseph L. Poole. Condolences for the family may be left in the online guestbook at www.watsonhunt.com. Watson-Hunt Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.