Leon Gray, the longtime local media presence and local official and indefatigable D.J. at public entertainment events, was laid to rest this past weekend under the aegis of his cousin, the Rev. La Simba Gray at New Sardis Baptist Church on Holmes Rd.
Previous to that Gray lay in state at Serenity Funeral Home on Sycamore View, where large crowds of well wishers, from influencers to regular folk, came to pay their respects.
Gray’s death, from an apparent heart attack, was unexpected. He was 62, and he was still very much making his presence felt at civic events, where he was a steady and relied-on presence. He had worked extensively as a TV reporter and radio commentator and had filled many a position in local government. Most recently he was working as special assistant to Juvenile Court Judge Dan Michael.
As a sign of his impact on local government, the Shelby County Commission on Monday designated by unanimous vote a special media area that will be named for Gray in the forthcoming new Juvenile Justice Center, the establishment of which, to serve youthful Memphians at risk, had been a matter of great importance to Gray.
Gray’s public spiritedness extended to what he saw as the careless desecration of his native city’s potential beauty. In a “Vent” article published last year in the Flyer, he lamented the omnipresence of litter and said, “I’m sick of this filth, but I’m also just as sick of watching nobody do anything about it. So, if by chance you read this, join me in this crusade to try and clean up our city and restore the pride in our neighbors. Write your elected officials and tell them this is a priority. Finally, let’s teach our kids to always try and leave our shared spaces better than we found them.”
