Dorothy M. Gray

Dorothy Mae Gray passed unexpectedly on April 10 2023. She was born Dorothy Mae Perry to Eartis and Della Perry in the Autumn of 1931 in Hickman, Kentucky. She was sheltered from want and learned self sufficiency through the great depression sheltered on a farm. This lesson would last her entire life. She was raised, after the passing of her mother, by her step mother Annie Perry with her two younger sisters Artis and Helen. Though she lamented leaving her sisters, she had other dreams than living life on a farm. A southern bell crowned Miss Hickman High- she graduated and went to Lane College to pursue a degree in home economics and teaching. Though as with many ambitious young black women in the 1940’s, from modest rural background funds were limited but not her belief in education.

She left Lane college and joined the great migration north. She landed first in Cleveland, Ohio, next Chicago, Illinois, and finally Milwaukee, WI. With the help of relatives already settled in these cities, she looked forward to countless prospects of better jobs and a better life. Unafraid she held numerous positions and secured a place for her younger sisters to follow with an active social life in Milwaukee and a quiet charm, she received many offers of marriage, from ball players, officers, and artists of her many friends. She married Glen James, a Jamaican immigrant, and built a life in the heart of the city to complete their little family of 2 daughters Janet and Sheila James. But given the choice of moving to the shores of Jamaica or remaining in America, Dorothy chose to remain in America to educate her 2 children-thus became a single mother. Dorothy made it a priority to make sure her daughters were well educated even at the expense of foregoing potential employment of choice.

She created a village of friends, relatives, and neighbors, her church, and teachers to guide her in her larger focus. She was instructed and confirmed on the 4th day of February 1962 into Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod in Milwaukee, WI. She also found time to dedicate herself to political campaigns so much so that she worked for Senator Proxmire’s campaign. At the birth of each of her baby girls, she received a letter of congratulations. While attending Cross Lutheran church, she joined Father Grappy and the Black Panthers during Milwaukee’s civil rights struggles- and still found time to be a girl scout leader!

Her social life remained active with many friends by her side. A friend that helped her throughout was John Gray, who would become her husband of over 35 years until his passing in 2001. The family expanded during this time to include two more baby girls- Deanna and Latrice Gray- to round out this happy home to 4 children. They both worked and built the most practical middle class home to be found. All her hard work and savings went toward the private education of all 4 girls-grade school through secondary education. With that accomplished she had time to pursue one of her great passions which was travel. Travel explorations include: New York, Nassau Bahamas, Las Vegas, Hawaii, California, Canada, numerous family reunions throughout the US and finally her Alaskan Cruise, to which she hoped to return. Out in nature she was at her best: cabin sites at WI Dells & Sister Bay WI – all of this and as a happy passenger/sidekick.

Finding out she would become a grandmother (Angelica Gray and Kyle Safford), she decided she would take that passion and give it to her grandchildren and made it a priority to stay closer to home and be a role model for her grandkids. Staying closer to home also allowed her to tend to her award-winning flower garden, providing an open door for those in need- making her home the center of life. She became known in the community for her participation in the neighborhood watch program, member of the VFW, Women’s Auxiliary. Grassroots political organizing put her high on the call list for community pillars, Alders, and the 5th Precinct. For recreation, she had a great interest in the Milwaukee Bucks. She even met and became friends with Robert Terrell Cummings who made sure she had tickets to watch a game when the Bucks were in town.

She took her love of previous work as a CNA to continue to care for the sick and got continual calls/drop in visits from past patients, family friends and neighbors for advice on remedies and nutrition, much of which she learned from her days on the farm and carried forward. She never asked for compensation for any of the food, teas and folk remedies she supplies those in need. When she retired, she had enough home health supplies that she could have opened her own small clinic…. Her knowledge of food, teas, and folk remedies proved to be fortuitous when the time came for her to age at home later in life.

To finish one of her passions, she enrolled in MATC and became licensed in Home Furnishing and Upholstery. She adored and became successful using her new skills in woodworking, but she never let that divide her time from her home and family; nor allow doubts from her friends to deter her passion.

Her love of politics was revived in 2008 with the pride of working to see Barack Obama elected to office. It was her thrill to actually meet Michelle Obama when she came to rally Milwaukee as part of the campaign trail.

Later on, Dorothy used her skill of care giving to provide phenomenal care to the eldest daughter Janet James who succumbed to cancer 2012. But out of that darkness, came new life with the birth of her great grandchildren Veronica and Malcome Smith -she became “GiGi”. Veronica and Malcolm shared the privilege of living with her in a special bond that will never be broken. The two people she loved with every beat of her heart until the last one.

She is survived by: Great Grandchildren (Malcolm Smith 10, Veronica Smith 11), Grand Children (Kyle Safford , Angelica Gray) Daughters (Latrice Gray, Deanna Safford, Sheila James), Niece & Nephew (Avis and Larry Brooks), Sister (Artis Henderson), and a host of beloved cousins- of the Mayes and Perry families in her expansive family tree.

Visitation will be held at Krause Funeral Home,  9000 West Capitol Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53222, Monday, April 24, 2023 from 9:00-10:00AM. Funeral Service at 10:00 AM. Burial to follow at Southern Wisconsin Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, Union Grove, Wisconsin.