On Saturday, November 19, 2016, a beloved husband, father, brother, in-law, uncle, grandfather, and God-father was called home to glory. He resided in Wakefield, Virginia when he married the love of his life and moved to Baltimore, Maryland in 1967. He remained in Baltimore for 46 years, and then soon returned back to Virginia making his permanent home in Petersburg, Virginia in 2013.

Mr. James O'Neil Gray (Squeezer), the son of the late Bennie W. Gray and Bertha Iola Brown Gray was born in Southampton County, Virginia on May 9, 1942. He was preceded in death by his siblings: Monroe Gray, Alton Lee Gray, and Carey Gray. Squeezer was baptized at an early age and became a member of Union Hill Christian Church, which is now called Union Hill United Church of Christ where his membership continued until his death. He attended school in Southampton and Sussex County Public Schools. Later he married Sarah Ann Chambliss, the daughter of the late Mable Chambliss and Liston Chambliss Sr. He and Sarah had marital bliss for 49 years since March 18, 1967 until his death. From this union they were blessed with one child.

Squeezer was a dump truck driver employed by the IA Construction Company in Baltimore, Maryland for 38 years. He was a hardworking man who retired in 2002. His other places of employment were the Newport News Shipbuilding for 2 years and the Wakefield Farm Service for 3 years as a truck driver before moving to Baltimore Maryland. He was a loving husband who always called his wife "BABY" and was the sole provider of the home. During his spare time he enjoyed gardening and fishing as much as he could do it. Squeezer enjoyed and loved his church and his church family profoundly.

He leaves to cherish his memories, to a devoted wife of 49 years, Sarah Chambliss Gray, his children: James 0. Gray, Jr. (Shannon) of Waldorf, MD., Artemus Hill (Veran) of South Carolina, Wayne Ricks, Sr. (Cynthia) of Spring Grove, VA; two sisters: Iola Louise Powell (Lloyd) and Bernice Virginia Crocker (William) of Bronx, New York; two brothers: Oscar Lydell Gray of Petersburg, VA, Anthony Tyrone Gray of Wakefield, VA; seven sisters-in-law: Mary Ann Guice, Carolyn Motton (Burnell) of Dendron, VA, Geraldine Freeman (Ronnie), Louise McNair of Norfolk, VA, Mable Byrd of Newport News, VA, Linda Jones (Sidney), Thelma Brown (Earl) of Surry, VA; 1 brother-in-law: Liston Chambliss, Jr. of Baltimore, MD; 10 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild, two adopted daughters, two God daughters, Denita Edmonds (Kenmanze) of Hampton, Va., and Keisha Guice of Baltimore, MD., four devoted friends: Joyce and John Munford of Baltimore, MD, Webster and Gwendolyn Brown of Dendron, Va., a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Family will receive friends Friday, November 25, 2016 from 6:00pm - 7:00pm at Peace Funeral Home, 237 Railroad Avenue, Waverly, Virginia.

Funeral service will be 1:00pm, Saturday, November 26, 2016, at Union Hill United Church of Christ, 16192 Union Hill Road, Sedley, Virginia. Interment will follow at Union Hill United Church of Christ Cemetery.