A Life of Service and Song Remembered in Virginia Beach
When Claudine Deloise Gray passed away on October 7, 2026, at the age of 88 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, she left behind a sprawling family and a lifetime of quiet dedication to healthcare, education, and gospel music. Born in Norfolk on August 23, 1938, as the oldest of seven children, her journey spanned several states and multiple careers before she settled back in Hampton Roads, according to an obituary published on Legacy.com by Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home & Crematory.
Her early education took place within the Norfolk Public School System. From there, her path led to Norfolk State University and nursing studies in Rhode Island. That training eventually brought her to Boston, Massachusetts, where she worked at Boston City Hospital. Upon returning to her native Hampton Roads, she transitioned to the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, managing medical records and helping care for infants. She also spent time working as a custodian for the Norfolk Public School System, directly contributing to the upkeep of the very schools that served her local community.
Faith, Family, and Final Farewells
Away from her working life, faith anchored her daily routine. As a born-again believer, she sang in the James Cleveland Community Choir, immersing herself in the rich traditions of gospel music.
Preceded in death by her mother, Lucille Allen, her sisters Sandra Lowe, Amy Lowe, and Georgianna Smith, and her brothers Ronald Lowe and William M. Holley Jr., she leaves behind a large family. Survivors include her children: Pastor Jesse Gray Jr. and his wife, Linda, of Virginia Beach; Ulathia Gray of San Antonio, Texas; Donnell Gray of Hampton; Sharita Cuffee of Baltimore; Crystal Williams and her husband, Lowell, of Bowie, Maryland; Michael Gray of Norfolk; and Kim Gray of Norfolk. She is also survived by her brother, Harvey T. Allen Jr., and his wife, Delores, along with numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and a special grandson, Deon Gray of Atlanta, whom she helped raise.
Family and friends will gather for a visitation at the Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home Princess Anne Chapel on Friday, October 30, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. A funeral service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at the same chapel. Condolences can be shared through the Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home website.
