THIS
LEGACY IS YOURS:
Celebrating the Lasting Contributions of
African American Women
Ruth
Stratton Gray
Ruth Stratton Gray was born in 1917 in Elkville, Illinois to
Christopher and Bessie Stratton. She attended grade school there
and graduated from the Elkville High School.
She met and was married to Millard Gray and to this union was
born one child, a daughter, Shirley. The family moved to Urbana
in 1942. Mr. Gray was employed at the University of Illinois,
until his retirement. Mrs. Gray was a housewife but also worked
as a domestic.
She has been a member of Bethel A.M.E. Church since 1943 and
has worked in many capacities including the Missionary Society
and the Willing Workers Group. She attended Church regularly,
and serves as a representative to Church Women United.
In the 1950's, she was affiliated with the Republican Party and
served as Committeewoman. She is also a long-time member of the
Douglass Senior Citizen Group.
Ruth
Stratton Gray
)
denotes original charter members of the Champaign County Section
of the National Council of Negro Women.