Otha Lamar Gray, 92, died Sept. 4, 2021.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Elizabeth Lib Gray; son, Jim; daughter, Susie Tarbona; daughters-in-law, Barbara Gray, DeAnna Gray and Julie Gray; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
A 50-year member of Aldersgate Methodist Church in Augusta, he was preceded in death by his parents, Willis and Maybelle (Land) Gray of Seneca, South Carolina; his brothers, Bruce, Ray and Ned; and sons, Glen Walter Gray and Charles Richard Gray.
Dr. Gray retired as Professor Emeritus from Augusta University, where he served as Dean of the Business School from 1972-1985. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and member of Augusta Rotary for nearly 50 years.
After graduating with honors from Furman University, he earned a masters degree from Virginia Tech, became a Certified Public Accountant, and earned the JD Degree from Emory University. His Ph. D was earned at the University of Alabama.
During his long academic career, he was also on the faculty at Furman, Georgia State, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Lander, USC and Virginia State. He was a member of the Georgia Bar, the South Carolina Bar and was admitted to plead before the United States Supreme Court in 1967.
He enlisted in the US Army during WWII, serving in the Army Corps of Engineers until his honorable discharge in 1947. His service to the nation resumed when he was asked by President Lyndon B. Johnson to serve in the United States Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service between 1966 and 1969.
He will be commemorated and interred jointly among many others who have also willed their bodies to the advancement of medical research.
He has requested that anyone wishing to honor his memory consider becoming an organ and/or tissue donor and leave the flowers to bloom in the fields.
Cards and letters of condolence may be sent to: Mrs. O.L. Gray at P.O. Box 463, Yulee, FL 32041-0463.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.