Gray Davis

Gray Davis, a lifelong resident of Lexington, passed away Monday evening, December 14, 2015 at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. Gray was born September 9, 1933 to Willie Veigh Leonard and E. Gray Davis, Sr. He was a graduate of Oak Ridge Military Academy and of Wake Forest University where he was an English major and member of Phi Beta Kappa. He also attended Wayne State University and served in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps. Gray was the co-owner of Brothers II, a men’s clothing business with locations in Lexington, High Point, and Winston-Salem. He served as a director of Wachovia Bank in Lexington and as President of the Davidson County Community College Foundation. For many years he volunteered at the homeless shelter in Lexington and at the Duke Cancer Clinic. He was a long-time member of Grace Episcopal Church where over the years he was a member of the Vestry, Senior Warden, led the Youth Group, and served on numerous committees. The great passions of Gray’s life were Mary, his wife of fifty-eight years, and automobiles. He was an avid collector of vintage cars. Many Lexington brides were chauffeured to their weddings in his classic Rolls Royce. Gray was a gift-giver and a wanderer. He loved his family, good food, travel, the beach, classical music (played loudly), collecting art, and his dogs. He is survived by his wife, Mary Dauch Davis; a son, James Gray Davis, of Salisbury; two daughters: Elizabeth Davis Piper and husband, Stephen, of Atlanta; and Sarah D. Davis of Tupelo, Mississippi; five grandchildren, Elizabeth Davis, and Mary Ann, Sarah, Mathews, and Brian Piper; three brothers, Leonard Davis and John Davis of Lexington, and Lee Davis of Winston-Salem; and a number of nieces and nephews. A private burial service will be followed at a later date by a celebration of Gray’s life. In lieu of flowers Gray requested that memorial gifts be made to Davidson County Community College. May the roads rise up to meet you …and may the good Lord hold you in the palm of his hand.