June 5, 1945 – November 11, 2025
Sharon LaVerne Gray (Jones) was born on June 5, 1945, in Dallas, Texas, as the eldest of three daughters to Johnnie B. and Opal Dorothy Williams Jones. From the earliest years, Sharon exhibited the intelligence, strength, poise, and beauty of both of her parents. She attended K.B. Polk Elementary School and was an honor student at Lincoln High School, where she thrived as a student leader. Sharon was a member of the Thespians and the Creative Hands Service Club, was the Company Queen of the National Defense Cadet Corps, the student director for the Harry T. Burleigh Choir, and a Miss Lincoln finalist.
Sharon then matriculated at Texas Woman’s University (TWU), where she continued to excel. She was the first-place winner of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Oratorical Contest and the first African American selected as a student officer, serving as the Vice President of her freshman class. She was extremely active throughout her college years, volunteering for the Tuberculosis Mobile Unit and serving as a counselor for freshman students. She also continued to excel academically, achieving honors each year. She graduated from Texas Woman’s University in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Sociology and Social Work and minoring in Psychology. She then earned a Master of Arts in Sociology the following year, also from Texas Woman’s University. While earning her master’s degree, she also worked as a substitute teacher for the Dallas Independent School District.
In 1968, Sharon married her high school sweetheart, Everette E. Gray, and accompanied him, raising their family, throughout his 25-year military career, starting with their first assignment in Ansbach, Germany, where Sharon worked as an Education Counselor.
Upon the young couple’s return to the United States, they were assigned to the US Army Advanced Chemical School, where Sharon worked full-time as a Sociology instructor at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama. A year later, Sharon and Everette welcomed their first child, Sharette Kirsten. Always dedicated to their growing family, Sharon remained in El Paso, Texas, serving as a “waiting wife” and caring for Kirsten, who was only two weeks old when Everette deployed for a year to Vietnam. Upon Everette’s return, they were assigned to Iowa State University (ISU), where Sharon was an ISU faculty member in the Sociology department, while Everette completed his graduate studies.
During their next assignment in Charlottesville, Virginia, Sharon and Everette were blessed to have two more children, LaGena Kerri and Jone Kala. Sharon was an amazing, active mother, raising all three young girls while also working as a Senior Services Social Worker in the Loudoun County Department of Social Services, and keeping the girls involved in Girl Scouts, piano lessons, tennis lessons, and playdates. The young family moved to West Point, New York, in 1979, where Everette taught Physics at the United States Military Academy, and Sharon worked as a Cadet Hostess and Social Activities Coordinator.
Following West Point, the family was assigned to Ft Leavenworth, Kansas; Frankfurt, Germany; Hermiston, Oregon; and then the National Capital Region, and at each new location, Sharon continued to work full-time as a social worker and substance abuse counselor, often serving in leadership roles as a clinical supervisor of the military or local county mental health clinics. Committed to her passion for social work, she continually expanded her expertise in substance abuse and mental health. She developed training modules for other providers and regularly attended and presented at national workshops. She also earned a second Master’s degree, a master’s in social work, from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1999, while working full-time.
However, the transcendent nature of her achievements is that while continually working full-time serving others, she first and foremost always gave of herself to serve her family, her priority. She excelled at the formidable task of packing up the home, preparing the children, and ensuring everyone settled into their new environment. With every relocation came the responsibility of signing the girls up for new schools, Girl Scouts, music lessons, dance classes, summer camps, band leadership retreats, and more. Always selflessly committed to Everette and her children, Sharon never missed a single meeting, recital, game, or parents’ night. Sharon managed it all, with two beliefs she held dear and that motivated her steps, “Home is where the Army sends you” and “Bloom where you are planted.” Sharon cross-stitched these philosophies, and they were prominently displayed as reminders throughout the home, as they also were embedded in her foundation of family.
Sharon was dedicated to serving others and her community in her personal life, as well. Sharon was a 50-year member and a ‘Golden Life member’ of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, an organization committed to service. As part of Delta Sigma Theta, she assisted with fundraising for scholarship programs as a ‘Delta Dear’. She also tutored young students weekly at First Baptist Church of Vienna. Sharon was also an Associate Member of Jack and Jill of America’s Reston Chapter. She was a woman of grace and a friend to all who knew her.
Not surprisingly, Sharon’s greatest pride was her role as a dedicated wife and mother. She was the epitome of a military wife, always committed to supporting Everette in his military career, regardless of any challenges, while equally committed to and focused on raising three confident, successful, capable women of character. And, there is no question that she not only succeeded, but excelled, in doing that. Her girls are a testament to her legacy – and the legacy of her commitment (to) and partnership with (her best friend), Everette.
Sharon is preceded in death by her parents, Johnnie B. and Opal Jones; her sister Carolyn Ann Henderson; and her first love, Everette E. Gray.
She is survived by her sister Marilyn Foster, her three daughters, COL (Ret.) (Dr.) Sharette Kirsten Gray (Patrick), CAPT LaGena Kerri Yarbrough, M.B.A., and Jone Kala Bullett, J.D.; two sons-in-law, Robert Patrick and Marcus Bullett; five grandchildren, Benjamin Anderson Patrick, Cameron Gray Yarbrough, Campbell Huang Yarbrough, Amari Kalyn Bullett, and Marcus Johnathan Bullett; and a host of nieces, nephews, and relatives.
