Evelyn Gray

Evelyn W. (Smith) Gray, 86, of Lakeland died August 19, 2009. A native of Cleveland, Tennessee, she had resided in Lakeland for five years. Ms. Gray had survived both Ward H. Smith (died 1960) and Arthur C. Gray (died 2006.)

Evelyn Gray combined a love for music and a commitment to her church by serving as pianist and organist at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Cleveland, Tennessee for over fifty years before moving to Florida in 2005. The congregation honored her service as a musician and as a deacon with Evelyn Gray Day. She was a passionate follower of sports at Cleveland High School from the time her sons were in the schools first two graduating classes.

Ms. Gray was born in Alabama, but grew up in and around Cleveland where she lived most of her life. She is survived by two brothers: Gene Weaver of Cleveland and Max Weaver of Tullahoma, Tennessee; and two sons: Dr. W. Alan Smith (and his wife, Dee) of Lakeland, Florida and the Rev. Dr. Jeffrey L. Smith (and his wife, Elaine), of Jacksonville, Florida. She had four grandchildren: Nathaniel D. Smith (and wife, Sarah) of Riverview, Florida; Gary Matthew Smith (and wife, Andrea) of Scottsdale, Arizona; Skye Nel Smith of Los Angeles, California; and Meredith E. McCumbee (and her husband, Shane), of Wilmington, North Carolina. She had one great-grand-daughter, Abigail McCumbee.

Services for Evelyn Gray will be a visitation at Grissom Funeral Home in Cleveland on Wednesday, August 26 and funeral on Thursday, August 27, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at First Christian Church. Internment will be at Fort Hill Cemetery following the service on Thursday.

Arrangements by Grissom Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to www.grissomfh.net