Edith "Deedee" Knight Gray, 93, died peacefully on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. The daughter of Richard Edgar Knight and Grace Earle Hildreth Knight, she was born in Tampa, Florida. She was preceded in death by, James Wallace Gray, Jr., her husband of 52 years.

She is survived by her son, Carlton Wallace Gray; daughter Erin Gray Stefany and her husband, Darrell Robert Stefany; three grandchildren Maiken Knight Stefany, Kamber Stefany Burke and her husband, William Christopher Burke; and Dillon Davis Stefany; a sister Ann Cooper Knight Schell; nephew Richard Schell, wife Leigh; a sister Sandra Knight Kezar, her husband, Dennis Kezar; nieces Laura Lee McKeithen, Hildreth Stafford, her husband Shawn; nephew Richard Budd, nieces Minda Frank and Patti Schmidt; nephew Bobby Frank, wife Claudia and numerous great nieces and nephews.

Deedee graduated from Plant High School and then from Florida State University for Women in 1945. She was a member of Chi Omega for 75 years. Upon graduation from Florida State University, she began her professional career as a second grade school teacher at Martha Alexander School.

Her Christian and community service included Abe Brown Ministries; the first Billy Graham Crusade committee; Junior League of Tampa 54 years – President and Editor of the Gasparilla Cookbook; Divine Providence Food Bank; Fellowship of Christian Athletes, campaign to elect Gerald Ford; Intervarsity Christian Fellowship; Metropolitan Ministries; Operation Mobilization where she taught Bible study classes worldwide, to the crews of the Logos and Doulos ships; Precept Ministries Workshop Trainer; Bill Gothard Seminar Organizational Committee; Leighton Ford Crusade; Fundraising Committee for Frances Schaeffer Program; Bible Study Fellowship; Samaritan's Purse – Operation Christmas Child; Gospel Ministries Annual Women's Conference Teacher; Theological Reform Seminary; member of Tampa Yacht and Country Club; Tampa Philharmonic Auxiliary, Tampa Art Institute Auxiliary. She supported missionaries worldwide: Korea, England, Japan, Singapore and India, (where she and her husband built a church).

Affiliated with Bayside Community Church – Tampa, Florida; First Presbyterian Church – Weaverville, North Carolina; Davis Islands Community Church – Tampa, Florida, where she taught Sunday school for many years.

Deedee was an avid traveler and gardener. She could frequently be seen wearing a butterfly pin on the back of her left shoulder, using resulting inquiries as an opportunity to share her faith.

The Celebration of Life service for Deedee Gray will be held Friday, September 29, 2017 at 10:30 A.M., at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church, 3501 W. San Jose Street, Tampa, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests those of you who may wish, to make contributions to Abe Brown Ministries, Inc., 2921 North 29th Street, Tampa, Florida 33605

"ENTRUSTED TO OUR CARE"
MacDonald Funeral Home