Dr. John Javan Gray, of San Diego, California, was born on March 21, 1949, in Harvey,
Illinois. Dr. Gray enlisted in the United States Army in 1967, after graduating from Samuel F.B. Morse High School. During his enlistment, he served as a helicopter mechanic/crew chief during three tours of duty in the Vietnam War. John returned to San Diego to attend San Diego City College, where he met and later married Althea Mains; to that union were born three sons (Black Diamonds) Johnny, Jr., Mark, and Chris.
Dr. Gray returned to the States and became a Drill Instructor. He attended Monterey Peninsula Junior College. Upon graduation, John received acceptance to the Army Officer Candidate School. John was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Transportation Corps and assigned to Fort Eustis, Virginia, finishing his degree in Personnel Administration from Saint Leo University. His duties were Junior Officer Instructor, Marine Terminal Operations Officer, Medium Boat Maintenance Officer, Heavy Truck Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Company Commander.
John attended Flight School at Fort Rucker, Alabama. John had many assignments
throughout the United States and South Korea as an Aviation Maintenance Officer; his last was with a VIP Flight Detachment (White Tops) at Fort Ord, California. While there, he completed the master’s degree program, graduating from Golden Gate University with a Master’s in Public Personnel Administration. Dr. Gray retired from Fort Ord and the United States Army after serving a total of twenty-two years as a Captain, having sustained the highest operational ready rate the unit had ever experienced. That achievement garnered him the Meritorious Service Medal.
After returning to San Diego, John started working for the State of California Employment Development Department as a Transition Assistance Program Instructor. Doctor Gray received the Certificate of Ordination as a gospel minister at Linda Vista Second Baptist Church.
John went home to be with the Lord on December 23, 2023.
Doctor Gray was preceded in death by his mother Ethel Ophella Hunter-Gray, brother Ivria Jamal Gray, sister Beebee Cecilia Gray and brother Tim Gray.
To cherish his memory is his lovely wife Sister Althea Gray, his three black diamonds; Mr. Johnny Javan Gray, Jr. (Leslyn) of Virginia, Mr. Mark Anthony Gray (Mildred) of California, and Mr. Christopher Jordan Gray of California, his six grandchildren; EJ, Jasmine, Elijah, Aleena, Jayson, and Saniyyah, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, church family and friends.
