Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

July 12, 2025

CONCORD – Elizabeth Leigh Gray, a gentle soul departed this earth to go to her eternal home on Saturday, July 12, 2025.  She was born on April 28, 1967, in Charlotte, NC to the late Buck and Libby Gray.

Beth was born with special needs and lived all her life with both mental and physical limitations.  She never really spoke, but she knew how to communicate.  Her poor eyesight and limited ability to walk both eventually went away.  Yet throughout all her life, Beth was a sincerely sweet person.  She dealt with her limitations with the very best attitude a person could have. She was and is an inspiration to many.

In the first 21 years of her life, Beth attended Metro school, lived at home, and was cared for by her mom and a wonderful caretaker, Myrtle Horton.  At 22, she went to live at a care facility now known as RHA Clear Creek ICF.  After several years, Beth was able to move to a group home a mile from her parents.  While living with her peers, Beth had a wonderful roommate named Anna for over 15 years. Though Beth lived away, she returned home every Saturday afternoon, had dinner with the family, a long hot bath, spent the night, and then went to Sunday School the next morning at Providence Baptist Church.  She loved her Sunday School teachers – at first, Bill Taylor, and then Phil and Suzanne Lail.  After church they would eat lunch at the Bojangles in Cotswold where then manager Robert always greeted her with affirming words.  In her later years, as Beth’s health deteriorated some, she needed to return to RHA Clear Creek.  There, the staff on Yellow Wing showed Beth a lot of love and took good care of her.

Beth never traveled all that much.  Though she went on family trips to see relatives in Mt. Airy, NC and Virginia Beach, VA, she was mainly taken on errands and appointments around town.   Yet, wherever she went, her sweet spirit had the effect of bringing people together and putting smiles on people’s faces.  Beth enjoyed playing records, sorting dominos, coloring (when she could see) and for a time bagging potpourri for a small paycheck.  She enjoyed those activities, but what she really enjoyed was just being in the presence of people who were gentle, friendly, positive, or laughing.

Beth is survived by her brother, Lee Gray and his sons, Wilson and Warren Gray, as well as an extended family of wonderful uncles (and their wives), cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Beth was a gentle soul who was loved by many. We will honor her life and ministry to others in a memorial service at 11:00 AM on Friday, August 8, 2025, at Providence Baptist Church.  The family will receive friends following the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Providence Baptist Church, 4921 Randolph Road, Charlotte, NC 28211   Memorials are suggested to one of the following areas – Special Education Adult Sunday School Class, Bereavement Ministry, or Libby Gray memorial library.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606.  Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.