Jesse J. Gray, Sr.

Jesse James Gray was born on August 21, 1941, in Monticello, Arkansas, the son of the late Eddie and Blanche Gray. Jesse transitioned from this life on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at St. Luke’s Hospice House.

Jesse was a graduate of St. Bartholomew High School in Little Rock, Arkansas where he met and later married his high school sweetheart, Opal Gray in 1960. To that union, eight children were born. Jesse accepted Christ at an early age and joined the Holy Temple Church of God and Christ in Little Rock, Arkansas. He later joined New Bethel Church and served as a Deacon until his passing.

Following high school, Jesse joined the military to serve his country where he learned various culinary skills and became a very good cook. After migrating to Kansas City in 1968, Jesse worked in custodial services for several companies with most of his career being in the Kansas City Missouri Public School system. His primary role was lead custodial engineer up until his retirement.

Holidays and barbecue cookouts were filled with some of his specialty dishes. Whether it was meats, sides, or desserts, nothing was a challenge for Jesse when it came to cooking. Jesse had a famous dish he’d prepare called “Shimmy on the Shame.” This dish would become a family favorite.

Jesse was an avid jokester and never met a stranger. He was a giver and loved his church family. Jesse also loved bringing doughnuts to his friends at the Davita Dialysis Center. His hobbies and interest were cooking, traveling, shopping, and watching the KC Chiefs games.

Jesse was preceded in death by his wife Opal Gray, son Darrel Gray, and daughter Yolanda Gray.

He leaves to celebrate and cherish his memory three sons, Jesse James Jr., Terry Len (Bonnie), and Ronald Anthony all of Kansas City, Missouri; four daughters Beverly Jo (Alvino) Crawford of Peculiar, Missouri, Valerie Lafaye (Marvin) Kitchen of Kansas City, Missouri, Angela Rachelle (Terence) Triplet of Grandview, Missouri, and Gina Nelson-Newton of Riverside, California; three sisters, Margaret (Samuel) Rhodes, of Merriam, Kansas, Gwendolyn (Roy) Swift of Detroit, Michigan, and Eddie Mae (Charles) Woodbury of Little Rock, Arkansas. Seventeen grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, church family and other relatives and friends.