Rachel Elizabeth "Bet" Gray

Miss Rachel Elizabeth (“Bet”) Gray, 80 of Shipman, Virginia departed this life on Monday, August 22, 2022 at her residence.  Rachel was born on September 12, 1941 in Nelson County.  She was the daughter of the late Abraham Gray, Sr. and Rachel Baker Gray. Besides her parents and several aunts and uncles, Rachel was preceded in death by her nephew Frederick Gray and great-nephew Ray Mosby, Jr.

Rachel joined Bright Hope Baptist Church (Lovingston) at a very early age.  She was a faithful member and loved attending her church and visiting other church programs.  Bet enjoyed many other activities like reading her Bible every night, watching Kelley & Ryan to find out who won the mug or the trip; doing Word Search puzzles, and watching her favorite game shows and soap operas  (“her stories”).  She also loved reading True Story books.  Bet enjoyed being around her family and she was always the go-to person for anything you wanted to know about the family history or birthdays.  Summertime was fun for all the kids in the neighborhood when she treated them to ice cream from the Swan ice cream truck.  We think Bet loved the ice cream as much as the kids did.

Rachel leaves to cherish her memories, three sisters Barbara Barber of Brooklyn, NY,  Virginia Foster and Helen Gray (Bo) both of Shipman, VA; two brothers Abraham Gray, Jr. (Rosy) and Lloyd Gray, Sr. (Joyce) both of Shipman, VA;  her Aunt Inez Turner of Charlottesville and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. 

Bet was a loving Godmommy to Shamika Foster Nanor and Christianna Nanor and was like a second Mom to Allegra Johnson.

Much gratitude and special thanks to Bet’s devoted caregivers: Allegra, Shamika, Aja, Helen, Judy, Sylvia, Virginia, Ann, and her Hospice Nurses.

A funeral service will be held 2:00 PM Saturday, August 27, 2022 at the Wells/Sheffield Funeral Chapel in Lovingston with the Rev. Samuel Woodson officiating. 

Interment will follow in the Bright Hope Baptist Church Cemetery in Lovingston.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

The family request that attendees follow strict Covid-19 guidelines (Masking and Social Distancing).

Arrangements under the direction of Wells/Sheffield Funeral Chapel, Lovingston, VA (434-263-4097).