Georgia “Anita” Gray, age 88, was born March 1, 1935 to the late Christian Coop Campbell and Fay Anthony Campbell in Manchester.  She is preceded in her death by her husband of 54 years, Johnny Gray. They married on June 18, 1954 in Ringgold, Ga. Anita was born and raised in Manchester and was a Coffee County Central High School graduate class of 1954. She was a member of Main Street Church of Christ and was well known for her larger-than-life personality and her tender, caring spirit. She began her legacy of caring for others at a young age by helping her mother care for disabled residents in their family boarding home-Campbell’s Boarding Home. She later worked at Tennessee Overall Factory before beginning her adulthood career at Batesville Casket Company, where she retired after over 20 years of employment. She was an avid Atlanta Braves baseball fan and she was the best country cook around. Anita gained many nicknames throughout her life: momma, maud, aunt Nita, Ma, and George. She loved any and all as her own. Her family was her world, her motivation and her absolute everything.  Anita’s loved ones are listed as follows, children,  Shelley Shockley (David), John Gray, and the late Susie Hale (Glenn); grandchildren, Christy Watkins (Troy), Devin Messick (Victoria), Jenna Lovelady (Candye), Brittney Gray, Kristen Elam (Chris), Hanna Cunningham (Lee), Dalton Hale and Forrest Hale (Brooklynn); great-grandchildren, Makenzie and Grayson Jennings, Taylor McClure, Bo Nunley, Kaycee Messick, Haiven Gray, Cooper, Sawyer, and Reese Elam, Rhett and Hallee Cunningham, Leslie Watkins, Megan Dunbar (Dalton), Olivia Trent (Conner), Parker Lee Chambers; great-great-grandchildren, Avery James Whelchel, Evryn Rowe Mitchell, Isla and Dallas Dunbar, Hadee Hale, and C.J. Trent; siblings, Patsy Clayton (Devon), Burnice Anthony (Brenda), Ronny Gray (Carol) and late Vernie Mae Smithson (Donnie). Visitation with the family was held Friday, Jan. 26, from 10 a.m. until funeral service time at 2 p.m. at Central Funeral Home. Burial followed in Rose Hill Memorial Gardens in Tullahoma. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Dusty Elam Foundation.

Central Funeral Home is honored to serve the Gray family.  931-723-7774  www.centralfuneralhome.com