Pastor Dr. Willie Mack Gray

Dr. Willie Mack Gray

Dr. Willie Mack Gray was born on May 31, 1942 in Ittabena Mississippi to Mackintosh Gray and Betty Grenston. He accepted Jesus into his heart as his personal Lord and Savior at an early age through the Church Of God In Christ. Being just a few generations removed from slavery, he spent the humble beginnings of his youth growing up in the segregated South alongside his parents and 3 older sisters as a sharecropper picking cotton in the fields. Following his father’s passing during his formative years, his family relocated to Greenwood, Mississippi where he was raised. There, he met his “Little Darling”—Ethel Mae Page. They began dating and soon after become high school sweethearts. Willie and Ethel sealed their union before God in holy matrimony on July 25, 1963. In the same year, they welcomed their first child (Gwendolyn Ann Gray Bowser) and later, four more children, (Starletha Denise Gray Stewart, Stephanie Gray Day, Sheila Gray, and Gregory Mack Gray) in subsequent years. They relocated to Los Angeles, California and then to Simi Valley, California in 1969 where they became homeowners.

While getting acclimated and settling themselves into the community, Gray and his family became members of the newly forming Simi Valley Second Missionary Baptist Church. Gray was ordained as the church’s first deacon on May 1, 1977. He went on to serve as a Sunday School teacher and as the Sunday School Superintendent. He accepted his call to the ministry in 1981, and became a licensed and ordained reverend. In February of 1987, following two predecessors, Gray became the Pastor of Simi Valley Second Missionary Baptist Church where he served faithfully and diligently up until his untimely passing. Under his full-time leadership, the church experienced significant growth and development. Most notably was his successful overseeing of the completion and reconstruction of the now historical landmark that stands there today. He established countless ministries, training programs, community outreach initiatives, and conferences.

While pastoring and serving his community, he also held numerous jobs to provide for his family. He worked as a janitor at Warner Bros. Studios, Wonder Bread Company, and for the Simi Valley Unified School District. He worked as a construction truck delivery driver for luxury developments in both Los Angeles County and Ventura County. He worked as a city bus driver in Simi Valley, and he retired as a Master Barber alongside his co-business owner and wife Ethel at “Ethel’s Beauty Salon” A.K.A. “Sisterdear’s Place” in Simi Valley. The salon still stands today and has been operating as the longest running Black-Owned beauty salon in Simi Valley for three consecutive generations.

Dr. Willie Mack Gray has been honored with multiple honorary doctorate degrees in recognition of his lifelong commitment to ministry, his scholarly adjudication of The Word of God, and his community involvement. He received his first Honorary Doctorate of Letters in 2002 from St. Stephen’s University School of Theology, followed by an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity in 2004 from Sacramento Theological Seminary & Bible College, and another Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Links Theological Bible College in 2011. Dr. Gray and the Simi Valley Second Missionary Baptist Church family were active participants of the Progressive Baptist State Convention where he served as a board member. He was an active member of the Central District, The Baptist Ministers Conference of Los Angeles, and the Simi Valley Praying Pastors fellowship.

While serving valiantly as a pastor, leader, and spiritual father to many—He was first and foremost an active husband and present father to his own family. He leaves behind:

His wife—First Lady Ethel Mae Gray.

His five children—Gwendolyn Ann Gray Bowser (late Pastor Theodore Bowser), Minister Starletha Denise Gray Stewart (David Lee Stewart), Stephanie Gray Day (Eugene Day), Sheila Gray, and Gregory Mack Gray (Mignon Gray).

His grandchildren—Terrance Patrick Hooks (Melissa Williams), Timothy Jacob Wilson, Minister Matthew Aaron Wilson (Maeghan Wilson), Dr. Sheridan Chanel Bowser, Andrew Joseph Wilson (Donna Wilson), Teddy Paul Bowser (LaTrice Bowser), Amanda Janeé Sutton-Gray, Gregory Armani Gray, Niyara Aaliyah Gray, Senior Airman Alexander Jamal Brame (Amber Brame), and London Ashley Ballinger (Brian Ballinger).

His great-grandchildren—Aaron Andrew Wilson, Fayth Yvonne Wilson, Parker Drew Wilson, Mykah Josiah Wilson, Jaxson Jru Wilson, Malachi Elijah Wilson, Tessa Blair Hooks, Melea Genesis Wilson, Amaya Candace Brame, Elijah Hudson, Sanaya Rose Brame, Christopher Ballinger, Caleb Ballinger, and Christian Ballinger.

One sister—Queen Ann Harris (Smiley Harris).

The entire Simi Valley Second Missionary Baptist Church congregation, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, God-children, friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.

With unwavering integrity and a steadfast commitment to service, Pastor Gray led both his family and his church with wisdom, compassion, and faith. He lived the most upstanding life on Earth—therefore we find peace in knowing “His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant: you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’”—Matthew 25:21, NKJV.