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Mervin Gray, 82, a retired local pastor, died July 19. The Rev. Kay Albury officiated at a funeral July 25 at Brooks UMC in St. Leonard.

Gray enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1952, where he was a survival instructor. He was discharged in 1960 and for the next five years served with the Maryland Department of Corrections.

In 1965, Gray founded and directed a community food store designed to provide employment and mentoring to low income and undereducated youth.

He received a license to preach from the Baltimore Southwest District in 1969 and was appointed to Strawbridge UMC in Baltimore. He served the church until 1980, when he was transferred to the Lusby Charge (Eastern UMC and St. John UMC) where he remained until his retirement in 1989.

While at Strawbridge, he established the Strawbridge United Methodist Daycare Center for mentally retarded children.

During his years on the Lusby Charge, he established the East-John Youth Center, a facility designed to provide learning and recreation for children.

After his retirement, he continued his community activities. He organized the West-Lusby Appeal Community association and the coalition of South County Community associations. He
was an active member of Brooks UMC.

He and Diane Davis were married in 1979. They had one child.

Survivors include his wife, daughter Vashti Gray-Sadjedy, of Bowie; a stepdaughter, Angela Davis-Drew, of St. Paul, Minn., and three grandchildren.

Condolences may be sent to his wife, Diane Gray, P.O. Box 2016, Lusby, MD 20657.