Service was held Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at Mt. Erie Baptist Church. Arrangements entrusted to Preferred Cremation and Burial.
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Elray Adkins was the eleventh of thirteen children born to his mother, Louisa (Wilson) Adkins, and father, Earl Lorenzo Adkins, Sr., on May 22, 1934, in Elmo, Texas. Elray attended William Henry Burnett High School in Terrell, Texas. While there, he met and later married Maurine Thomas. Elray graduated from Burnett High School in 1955. He was the Class Valedictorian. His athleticism in football, baseball, and track led to his induction by the Terrell Independent School District (TISD) into the Tiger (Burnett High School) Hall of Fame in October 2011.
In September 1955, Elray enlisted in the United States Navy, where he had an illustrious and decorated career. He entered service at the lowest rank, E-1 (Airman Apprentice), and rose to the highest enlisted rank of E-9 (Master Chief Petty Officer).
Aviation Storekeeper Master Chief Petty Officer (AKCM) Elray Adkins retired honorably from military service, effective September 30, 1980.
Elray and Maurine married on December 24, 1960, and were blessed with four children: Michael, Michele, Yolanda, and Shiela.
Elray’s military orders brought his young family to San Diego in 1967. During Elray’s fifty-seven years of residency in San Diego County, he, along with his wife Maurine, purchased homes in San Diego, Chula Vista, and Bonita. Following retirement from the Navy, he worked in the private sector and civil service. His combined military and federal civil service spanned forty-three (43) years. He served as Deacon at the Mt. Erie Baptist Church in San Diego.
On December 29, 2024, Elray Adkins transitioned to his heavenly home.
Elray was preceded in death by his wife Maurine Adkins, parents, seven sisters; Helen (Adkins) Hall, Caribell Adkins, Luecenia Adkins, Alice LaForest (Adkins) Watson, Jewel Lorene (Adkins) Moore, Ruby Faye Adkins, and Lucy Alberta (Adkins) Davis, and three brothers; Earl Lorenzo Adkins, Jr., James Jefferson Adkins, and Curtis Corley Adkins Sr.
Left to mourn his passing two older sisters; Mary Ellen (Adkins) Lawler of Los Angeles,
California, and Imogene (Adkins) Gaffney of West Babylon, New York, wife Naomi, his children; daughters Angela Rene’ (Adkins) Fields, Michele (Adkins) Young, Yolanda Adkins, and Shiela Adkins, son Michael Adkins, six grandchildren; Joseph Young, Jasmine Young-Ramirez (Reyes), Justin Young, Asia (Adkins) Miles (Dre’Juan), Michael Adkins II and Isaiah Adkins, a host of other relatives, nieces and nephews, friends, church members, and Navy shipmates also mourn his passing.
