Dade County History Book

Gray, Woodrow W. & Vennie Mitchell

Woodrow and Vennie, made in 1975.

This picture was made Sept., 1988 at a family get-together celebrating Woodrow and Vennie's forty-seventh wedding anniversary. Vennie passed away six weeks later. Left to right First row; Norma Jean Gilley, Vennie & Woodrow Gray, Bruce Gray. Second row; Teresa Gilley (Greg's wife), Greg Gilley, Glenn Gilley Carol Gilley, Amanda Gray, Rewanda Gray, Sean Gray. Woodrow's family has grown since the picture was made. He now has four great grandchildren. Greg and Teresa Gilley have two daughters, Tori and Kirsten. Carol Gilley married Wiley Dicks, and has a stepdaughter, Chevon. Amanda Gray married Robert Gillean, they have two sons, Carter and Cole. Sean Gray married Lisa Oakes.

Woodrow Gray (Feb. 2, 1920) was the eighth of eleven children born to Walter and Eunice (Moore) Gray. His home was in New Salem until he joined the C.C.C.’s April 11, 1939. While working in the C.C.C.’s in Bristol, Tenn., he visited a little Baptist Church one Sunday night in Nov. 1939. He saw Vennie Mitchell (Nov. 6, 1918 -Nov. 10, 1988), and decided he wanted to meet her. They were married Sept. 20, 1941. Vennie was one of six children born to Rev. and Mrs. Elbert Mitchell. Rev. Mitchell was a Baptist Minister and preached until he was seventy-five years old.

Woodrow served in Italy during WWII and was wounded twice, he received two Purple Hearts. The first time he was wounded (Nov. 1944) and in the hospital in Italy, Lincoln his youngest brother came to visit him. Lincoln was a guard at a nearby hospital.

He was sent back to the front lines again and was wounded April 18, 1945. He stayed in the hospital in Italy until July 4, 1945. He came back to the states July 8, 1945 and called home only to receive the sad news his brother Allon had died, and was being buried that day. His wounds were not healed and he had to stay in the hospital in Atlanta until Nov. 23, 1945.

Woodrow, like his father and grandfather before him worked in timber and farmed. He and his son Bruce were owners of Gray’s Logging Contractors until he retired in 1982. Bruce now owns the business.

Woodrow and Vennie lived most of their married life in New Salem. They belonged, attended and worked in the New Salem United Methodist Church. They were married forty-seven years and had four children, and four grandchildren; Bobby Lewis(Jan.25. 1943 – March 31, 1943). Norma Jean (Feb. 1, 1944) married Glenn Gilley, they have two children Gregory and Carol. Bruce Allen (Sept. 20, 1946) married Rewanda Reeves, they have two children Amanda and Sean. Gary Wavne (Nov. 18, 1948 -Nov. 2 ,1972).

Written by Norma Jean Gilley Higdon, Ala. 35979