Leo Samuel Bunyan Gray

A Celebration of Life for Mr. Leo Samuel Bunyan Gray 88, of Decatur, Alabama will be noon Friday, March 21, 2025 at St. James C.P. Church in America with the Reverend Dr. Michael Jones officiating.  Inhumation will follow in Sterrs Cemetery. The body will lie in repose one hour prior to funeral service. Public viewing will be Thursday from noon to 5:30 PM at the funeral home. 

Leo Samuel Bunyan Gray (The G.O.A.T.) was born March 27, 1936, in Decatur, Alabama. He was born to Maggie Gordon and Neeley Gray and raised by his grandmother, Emma Gray, and aunt, Emma Kate Gray. Leo passed away peacefully in his home, surrounded by his family on March 12, 2025.

Leo graduated from Decatur Negro High School in 1955, where he earned All-Conference honors in football, basketball, and baseball. He continued his education at Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) majoring in Physical Education and playing basketball. After two seasons, Leo left Tuskegee to play baseball in the Negro League for the Indianapolis Clowns. Leo later returned home and became a founding member of the Decatur Rough Riders semi-pro football team. He led the team to an impressive 66-2 record between 1962 and 1966. He was also a member of the Decatur Nationals semi pro baseball team from 1962 to 1975. Despite his small stature, Leo was known for his determination, resilience, and fierce competitiveness, which made him a force to be reckoned with. His lively and outspoken nature earned him the nickname “Lip,” which his former teammates still use today. In 2015, Leo was inducted into the Morgan County Sports Hall of Fame for his athletic contributions.

Leo was highly talented and skilled with the ability to fix and repair various items. He also had an appreciation for the outdoors, which developed into a strong passion for gardening. He began growing large gardens and sharing vegetables with his Cherry Street neighbors. In his later years he frequently spent time in his backyard enjoying the fresh air. When standing became difficult, Leo continued to cut his own grass, believing that no one else could do it as well as he could.

Leo was employed at Monsanto Chemicals and Textile Plant for several years before joining General Motors Corporation’s Saginaw Division in Limestone County, where he ultimately retired. In recent years, Leo enjoyed serving at Reynolds Funeral Home.

Leo accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior early in life and became a member of the First Missionary Baptist Church. Later he joined St. James Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America.

Leo and Mary Toney Gray met in 1970, married in 1992, and enjoyed many wonderful years together.

Leo was preceded in death by his son, Reverend Raphael Keith Gray; parents, Maggie Gordon and Neeley Gray; grandmother, Emma Gray; aunt, Emma Kate Gray; brothers, Walton Gray, Council Gray, and Bobby Gordon; sister, Marion Carter; cousins, Etta B. Freeman, Nina Sheppard, and Dr. Lloyd Milton Harris; as well as his best friends, Joseph Porter and Floyd Key.

He is survived by: his wife, Mary Gray of Decatur, AL; children,Cedric (Tammy) Toney of Decatur, Fatina Tatum (Ron) of Atlanta, GA, Marlowe Gray of Decatur, AL, Alexis “Luh Leo” Gray (Jwanna) of Decatur, AL , Candace Berrios (Sushilla) of Decatur. AL, Khamesha Gray of Decatur, AL, Michele King (Guy), Clara Horn (Johnny) both of Decatur, AL, Stephanie Gray of Decatur, AL,Hernandez Gray of Decatur, Yoshida Hamilton of Decatur, AL, and Karen Langham of Arlington, TX; three sisters, Emma Jackson of Denver, CO, Nina Bankston of Decatur, AL, and Bobbie Sykes of Decatur, AL; four sisters-in-law, Josie Cambell of Memphis, TN, Margaret Benford of Decatur, AL, Climmie Banks of Gary, IN, and Dorothy Gordon of Decatur, AL,; one brother, Richard (Georgia) Smiley of Decatur, AL; 24 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends

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