Patricia Anita Gray was born in Detroit, Michigan on May 12, 1960 to the late Gwendolyn Mable and Lawrence A. Gray. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Gregory Coles.
Patti graduated from Cass Technical High School in 1978 and attended Wayne State University. For 19 years she worked in banking until 1996 when she moved to Florida, where over the years she worked in insurance, real estate and medical records. In 2019, Patti graduated from Irwin Technical College with a certification for Medical Billing/Coding Associate.
Many years ago, while visiting relatives who were Jehovah’s Witnesses, Patti heard the ‘ring of truth.’ When she returned home to Detroit, she started studying the Bible with Toni, a sister who became a lifelong friend. The following year, she dedicated her life to Jehovah and was baptized on June 16, 1979.
No one could ever doubt her love for Jehovah and the ministry, which always came first. Then after that, she loved Cold Stone ice cream and as everyone knows, watching old movies! She also enjoyed putting puzzles together. Something else you also knew, was that if you got close enough, she would make you give her an insulin shot. Argue if you want that you didn’t want to do it, she always won! Then she would just laugh it off and talk about Jehovah or head back to the ministry. Patti would do anything for you. She was truly such a kind and caring person. She would also “speak her mind” if she felt the need to, but you always knew she still loved you.
Because of her love for Jehovah and for people, Patti wanted to expand her ministry, so she began to regular pioneer in 1988. Wanting to expand her ministry even further, she learned sign language and for ten years she served as a regular pioneer in the Tampa Sign Language Congregation. She attended Pioneer Service School in 1989 and 2006.
Throughout her years serving Jehovah, Patti enjoyed many other privileges. She worked on projects with the Florida Regional Building Committee as a volunteer to help with Kingdom Hall construction. She attended International Conventions in Russia and Poland, visiting Budapest, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia and Germany, as well. She also had the wonderful privilege of helping many individuals come to learn the truth and make it their own. Many former Bible students feel as did this former one who said, “she was my mother, my sister, my everything. I can’t wait to see her in the new world.”
Although Patti was faced with persistent health issues as of late, her love for Jehovah and the ministry never wavered, it remained a way of life for her. She continued to serve as a regular auxiliary pioneer and have faith in, and hold close the promises found in the Bible until her death. We will miss her dearly.
How wonderful to know she now rests safely in Jehovah’s memory, the God she loved, awaiting her resurrection hope. We all look forward with full confidence and eager expectation to when soon that hope becomes a reality. Job 14:14, 15
Patti is survived by her Aunts Virginia Jackson and Jo Ann Gardner, sisters Diane Dumas and Kaye Wolff, and cherished cousins, nieces, nephew and friends.
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