Tommie Royce Gray died Sunday, April 23, at Merit Health River Region.  He was 74. 

He was born in Mobile, Ala., to the late Arthur G. and Annie Mae Huff Gray.  He was a graduate of Magee High School and had been a resident of Vicksburg for most of his adult life.  He retired from the U.S. Army in 1981 at the rank of Staff Sergeant.  He also retired from Waterways Experiment Station.  He was a member of Oakland Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Cindy L. Gray; his children, Hope Raney (Bobby), Shane Gray, Stephanie Brown-Deason, Tommie Gray Jr., Leland Gray, Justin Gray, Nicole Clark, Melissa Portman (Justin), Joanna Wheatley (Josh), Tony Gray (Stacy) and Lisa Smith; a brother, Rev. Ricky Gray; two sisters, Judy Crisci and Shelby Tucker; 17 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services will be 1 p.m. Thursday, April 27, at Oakland Baptist church with Rev. Dwight Sibley officiating. 

Burial will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery with military honors. 

Visitation will be at the church from 11 a.m. until the hour of service. 

Riles Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Pallbearers will be Shane Gray, Tyler Gray, Ashlea Raney, Bobby Raney, Caylea Gray, Todd Wilson, Wendell Moore, Timmy Raney, Michael Brown and Matthew Brown.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made in his name to Oakland Baptist Church, 2959 Oak Ridge Road.