Benjamin Clifton Gray was born on October 10,1945 in Winston-Salem to the late  Bennie and Margretta Gray. He departed this life at his home on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 after a courageous battle with Dementia.

He was educated  in the Winston-Salem Forsyth County School System  graduating in 1964 from Atkins High School. A standout athlete in football and baseball, he played both offensive and defensive positions and received a scholarship to Virginia Union University.  He was proud to have been drafted by the Denver Broncos training camp ultimately ended his football career due to injury.  He completed his  BA degree from Virginia Union University in Sociology. He was employed by Nationwide         Insurance, the Richmond and WS Urban Leagues, and Media General Publishing Co.

He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Sharmel ; sisters Mary Alice  Crowell ,Olivia Gray and Edith Mae Gray; Aunt Onetta Yokely Scott and Nephew Bishop  Napoleon Lee Crowell, Sr.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 56 years Carolyn Ingram Gray;  daughter Traci Gray of Baltimore, Maryland; special niece Carolyn Gray; nieces  Barbara Brinkley, Anita Rice, and Veronica Hughes; nephews Wayne (Tonette) Crowell, Christopher  (Monica) Crowell, James Crowell, and Ricky (Shenika) Crowell,; Sisters- in– law Anna (Clarence) Gilliam and  Gloria Ingram; brothers -in -law Calvin Ingram and Caesar(Margaret) Ingram and a bonus brother David ( Ernestine) Cooper. His circle of family and extended to the many nieces and nephews in the Ingram Family whom he held dear in his heart.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 pm on Tuesday August 12, 2025 at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 11:30am-12:00pm at the church on Tuesday. Entombment will follow in Piedmont Memorial Gardens. His remains may be viewed on Monday August 11, 2025 from 12pm-5pm at the funeral home.