Freda Jeanette Gray

Freda Jeanette Mullins Gray

September 4, 1931 to July 14, 2023

Jeanette passed away at approximately 1:15 a.m. on Tuesday, July 13, 2023, at Cottages of Brookside Nursing Home in Little Rock. She became a resident of the Cottages in late August of 2021 as a result of a fall in her living room. Her injury was untreatable because of her age. Her doctors felt they shouldn’t stress her body more than it already was. She was a member of the Church of Christ and continued to listen to her church services by phone each Sunday as long as she could. Jeanette was a long time resident of Delaplaine.

When she married Lafe, her husband of 44 years, she also gained the love and respect of his three children, daughter, Fern Conner (Bill), and sons, J.L. Gray (Climelia) and Bob Gray (Catherine).

She is preceded in death by her loving parents, Walter and Jimmie Mullins, husband, Lafe Gray; children, Fern Conner (Bill) and J.L. Gray (Climelia); two brothers, Harl Lee Mullins (Dorothy) and S.A. Mullins (Dorothy); sister, Joyce Jackson (Foster); granddaughter, Lindsey Todd Powell (Andrew); and her very dear friend, Ruth Hall.

She is survived by her little sister, Judy Thrasher (Joe); daughter, Jane Gray Todd (Terry), sons, James Gray and Bob Gray (Catherine); grandsons, Ryan Todd (Nora) of Sherwood, Joshua Gray of Ft. Worth, Texas, Gary Gray (Jessica) of Booneville, Wayne Conner (Dawna) of Simi Valley, California, and Morse Gray of Easley, South Carolina, granddaughters, Haley Todd of Alexandria, Louisiana, Becky Wooster (Gary) of Hemet, California, Donna Harveston (Lee) of Mariposa, California, Carol Gray of Ashville, North Carolina, Celeste Bowie (Steve) of Six Mile, South Carolina, and Charlotte Burgess (Mike) of Easley, South Carolina; and sixteen great grandchildren.

Jeanette met Lafe when they were employees of the (then) State Tuberculosis Sanatorium. She was a farm worker, housekeeper and retired from Frolic Footwear in Walnut Ridge after 28 years of service. She was raised in and around Booneville, Arkansas. She always looked forward to the trips she took with Joyce to watch the buffalo at the Ozark Valley Bison Farm in Ponco, Akansas, as well as attending the yearly reunions of their little one room school house in Ion, Arkansas. The school sat on a ridge on the outskirts of Booneville where one could look down and see homes scattered in the little valley areas below.

Besides her strong love and loyalty for her husband and children, she was always aware of those in Delaplaine and surrounding area who needed a smile and help of some kind. She always enjoyed her visits with her very dear friend, Ruth Hall. She loved working in her yard, going fishing when she could, and attending church services. She continued listening to the sermons on her phone each Sunday for as long as she could. She loved riding horses, and she broke and trained them for doctors in Fort Smith while in her teens. One great experience was showing a beautiful stallion called Satan’s Hot Moment. The owners of the stallion were Howe Stables, which was owned by Dr. and Mrs. J.H. Howe of Dingly Dell Farm. Dr. Howe was quoted while they were showing in Pine Bluff as saying, “We are very proud of both our young rider and young stallion". This was the first time for her to ride Satan’s Hot Moment. They won 4th place. Dr. Howe also stated, “This is really something for us to come to a big city and win!”, as he referred to Satan’s Hot Moment’s first show and the rider’s first time on his back.

The family will receive friends Friday, July 21, 2023, from 10-11 AM at Heath Funeral Home. The funeral begins at 11 AM. Burial is in Jones Ridge Cemetery. Pallbearers are Tony Jones, Cameron Martin, and Terry, Brad, Casey, and Joshua Gray. Honorary pallbearers are Keith Hall, Stephen Graves, Paul Gray and Dorian Gray.