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Obituary for Sue Chancellor Gray
Sue Chancellor Gray of Jackson, Mississippi, died peacefully in her home with family by her side on February 10, 2022. She was preceded in death by parents, Pauline Blade Chancellor and Albert Jefferson Chancellor.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 P.M. Sunday, February 13, 2022, in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi. Visitation will be held Saturday, February 12, from 3:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M. at Sebrell Funeral Home located in Ridgeland, Mississippi. Interment will be for family at Lakewood South Cemetery where she will be laid to rest beside her parents.
Born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, in 1939, Sue and her family moved to Jackson in 1944. She graduated from Forest Hill High School in 1957 and went on to earn a full scholarship to Oklahoma Baptist University where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music specializing in the field of Keyboard Performance. From there, she went on to acquire her Master’s Degree in Vocal Pedagogy from the University of Mississippi.
She started her career working in Greenwood as a church organist and participating in multiple Summer Stock productions. Soon after, she moved back to Jackson and assumed the long-term role of Organist at Calvary Baptist Church. She met her future husband, James Henry Gray, Jr., of Clayton, Texas, in 1966 while working at Calvary, where they married on May 12, 1967. They went on to make their home in Jackson for all of their more than 54 years together.
Sue developed a love for music at a very early age and became a frequent accompanist and soloist at her childhood church, Van Winkle Baptist Church. She also had active roles in many productions at New Stage Theatre including, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” She was a staff member for many summers at Ridgecrest Baptist Assembly in North Carolina. Sue’s passion and gift for music translated to every facet of her life. She instilled this love of music in her family, as well as teaching and mentoring the many voice students through the years. Though Sue played the organ for multiple churches, one of her great loves was teaching voice lessons and playing the role of teacher, mentor and sometimes, counselor, to her students.
In addition to music, Sue had many other interests, and one of her favorites was playing tennis. Not only was she a student of the game, she also loved her special group of friends that she met on the tennis court. She enjoyed taking lessons and drills each week, as well as many wonderful years playing on JLTA and USTA leagues. Sue was also an avid walker, but she knew how to incorporate having a good time with exercising. She and two of her best friends walked for years each Saturday to the IHOP, where they enjoyed pancakes and fellowship. Then, they walked back home to “walk off” the food they had just enjoyed.
Sue absolutely lived for her family devoting her life to supporting and doing things for them. This love of family was never more apparent when she became a grandparent as she completely doted on all four of her grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Above all things, Sue loved her Lord. She took to heart Luke 12:47-48, “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required”. Using her gifts to the fullest, she served the Lord her entire life through her music. She was a cherished and beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, aunt, teacher, and friend. She will always be remembered for her love of God and family, talent, impeccable sense of fashion and style, love for anything chocolate, quick wit, and her sometimes feisty streak. She is survived by sisters, Mary Ethyl Chancellor and Sylvia Chancellor Napper (dec. James Napper, daughter Pam Gunter), son, James Jarrod Gray (April), daughter, Suzanne Nicole Buchanan (Niles), grandchildren, Morgan Conwill (Brad), Emily Buchanan, Anna Gray, Avery Buchanan, and great grandchildren, Freddie and Felix Conwill.
Pallbearers are Chad Edge, Jason Rutherford, Louis Guy, Jarrod Gray, Niles Buchanan, Brad Conwill with Dick Morrison, Steve Holleman, Jerry Horner, Charles Gray and Kyle Morrison serving as Honorary Pallbearers.
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