Duncan Montgomery Gray Sr.

The Right Reverend Duncan Montgomery Gray D.D.
Bishop of Mississippi
Church	Episcopal Church
Diocese	Mississippi
Elected	January 20, 1943
In office	1943–1966
Predecessor	William Mercer Green
Successor	John Allin
Orders
Ordination	June 21, 1926 by Theodore DuBose Bratton
Consecration	May 12, 1943 by Henry St. George Tucker
Personal details
Born	(1898-05-05)May 5, 1898 Meridian, Mississippi, United States
Died	June 25, 1966(1966-06-25) (aged 68)
Buried	Lakewood Memorial Park, Jackson, Mississippi
Nationality	American
Denomination	Anglican
Parents	William Franklin Gray & Annie L. McClung
Spouse	Isabel Denham McCrady
Children	3
Alma mater	Sewanee: The University of the South

Duncan Montgomery Gray Sr. (May 5, 1898 – June 25, 1966)^[1] was the fifth bishop of Mississippi in The Episcopal Church.^[2] His son Duncan Montgomery Gray Jr and grandson Duncan Montgomery Gray III were the seventh and ninth bishops of Mississippi.^[3]

Early life and education

Gray was born on May 5, 1898, in Meridian, Mississippi, the son of William Franklin Gray and Annie McClung. He attended the Rice Institute in Hudson, Texas and later Sewanee: The University of the South.

Priest

Gray was ordained deacon on June 21, 1925, by Bishop Theodore DuBose Bratton. He served as deacon in Grace Church, Rosedale, Mississippi and Calvary Mission in Cleveland, Mississippi. He was ordained priest on June 21, 1926, after which he served as rector of Grace Church in Canton, Mississippi. He also served as rector in Nativity Church in Greenwood, Mississippi and St Paul's Church in Columbus, Mississippi. He was also a member of the Diocesan executive committee.^[4]

Bishop

Gray was elected, on the third ballot, bishop on January 20, 1943, during the 116th diocesan convention. He was consecrated on May 12, 1943, by Presiding Bishop Henry St. George Tucker in St Andrew's church in Jackson, Mississippi. As bishop he managed to keep the church growth in the diocese steady and increased the diocesan budget. He was also the first bishop to be installed in the diocesan cathedral after its establishment. He was also instrumental in promoting racial integration. Gray retired on May 31, 1966, and died a less than a month later on June 25. His funeral took place on June 27 in St Andrew's Cathedral, presided by the Bishop of Mississippi, John Allin.^[5]

Personal life

Gray married Isabel McCrady, who died on May 31, 1966, a few weeks before Bishop Gray. Together they had 3 children including Duncan M. Gray Jr. who later became Bishop of Mississippi.

References

1. "Episcopal Bishop Gray Dies". Daily Herald. Biloxi, Mississippi. June 27, 1966. The Episcopal diocese of Mississippi today mourned the loss of Bishop Duncan M. Gray
2. "Annual Cyclopedia of the Church: Gray, Duncan Montgomery (437)". The Living Church Annual: The Year Book of the Episcopal Church, 1944: 34. 1944. The Rt. Rev. Duncan Montgomery Gray was consecrated fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Mississippi on May 12, 1943
3. Head, Tom (May 4, 2011). "A Good Shepherd". Free Press. Jackson, Mississippi. Retrieved 2017-06-18. The Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi is the only diocese in the country to have a third-generation bishop.
4. (1944). The Living Church Annual, p. 34. Morehouse-Gorham Company, New York.
5. "Gray of Mississippi dies", The Living Church, New York, 10 July 1966.