Celebrating Life

This week, March 12 to March 18, has been funeral home visitation with the loss of a special cousin and Helen, a very special friend from our old neighborhood. Helen's parents' home was just across the street from our childhood home. This was a time when a family often consisted of three generations because there was no such place as a nursing home and the children took care of their parents in the golden years. Each parent looked out for other's kids and corrected them when necessary and each grand-parent was every child's grand-parent. Helen's parents were Granny and Grandpa Denson.

Helen, Maynard, their two sons and daughter lived here from time to time depending on where Maynard's military assignments took them. Helen was a true Southern lady, a wonderful daughter, wife, mother and neighbor. She always had a smile on her face and a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. She was always dressed to the nines whenever she went out and made many of her hats herself. She did all types of needle work, baked wonderful cakes and delighted in decorating them for any occasion. She made her own designs for many hooked rugs and dyed the wool in the special colors of her choice. She willingly taught anyone who wanted to learn any of her crafting skills. It was Helen who taught me to crochet, to knit and to play canasta. Many hours were spent on their big screened front porch on summer evenings playing canasta.

I could go on and on about Helen but what I would like to tell you about is her funeral. The flowers that covered the casket were white carnations and gardenias - her favorite. The minister presented an opening prayer which was followed by two of her grand-daughters reading a couple of her favorite scriptures. Her favorite hymn Amazing Grace was sung by everyone. Her older son Jan then presented her life in photographs. He had scanned all the old family photos, saved them to a laptop and selected those that were so significant throughout her 94 years of a very rich, full life to project on a screen for all to enjoy. It gave the grand-children a wonderful glimpse into the life of their grand-mother as a younger lady and recalled many terrific memories of a much happier, safer time for those of us of an older generation. After the photo presentation, her grand-children and some nieces expressed their remembrances of Helen. After a final hymn, her younger son Wayne presented a beautiful poem summarizing his mother's characteristics and qualities. It was such a beautiful celebration of this special lady's life! Oh, they thought of everything - Helen loved her coffee, playing bridge and scrabble and they made sure she had a deck of cards, coffee and a scrabble game with her!

Marilyn

Helen Maranda Denson Gray, 94, of Richmond, Va., formerly of Roanoke, died March 12, 2005 in Richmond, Virginia. Helen was born July 9, 1910 in Roanoke, Virginia, the daughter of Bessie Tinsley Denson, and Thomas Lee Denson. She was raised in Roanoke, Virginia. She graduated from Jefferson High School in 1928. She was preceded in death by her husband, Col. Jean M. Gray of Roanoke and Newport News; and by two brothers, Ira T. Denson and Charles L. Denson, both of Roanoke. Her husband was a U.S. Army Officer who served in World War II and the Korean War. They lived at various military bases in the United States and in Japan. In 1952, they moved to Newport News, Virginia. She lived in Newport News, Virginia from 1952 until 2003. She moved to Richmond in 2003 to be near her daughter. Helen is survived by two sons and a daughter, Jan M. Gray of Newport News, Virginia, T. Wayne Gray of Burke, Virginia, and Sara Gray Bateman, of Richmond, Virginia. Nine grandchildren survive her. They are Jennifer Gray Masek, of South Ridings, Virginia, Thomas Strother Gray of Orlando, Fla., Christopher G. Bateman of Reston, Va., J. Paul and M. Claire Bateman of Richmond, Andrew T. Gray of Fairfax, Va., and Emily Susan, Rebecca Denson, and Sarah Inskeep Gray of Burke, Va. Many beloved nephews and nieces in the Gray and Denson families also survive her. During her lifetime, Helen had many friends, with whom she shared the love of playing bridge, making cakes and holiday decorations, hooking rugs, and participating in wives' club activities at Fort Eustis, Virginia. She was a member of the Bethel Chapter of United Daughters of the Confederacy in Newport News. She was also fortunate to travel much of the world including Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Visitation will take place March 15, 2005, 6 to 8 p.m. at Oakey's Funeral Chapel in Roanoke. A memorial service will be held there on March 16, 2005, 10 a.m. with burial to follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Roanoke.