Obituaries

Mrs. Emma Mae Newton-Grays “BB”

Mrs. Emma Mae Newton-Grays “BB” was born October 29, 1926 to the late Demetris Sanders and Anna Elnora Sanders. She attended school in the Mumford School District. Mrs. Grays confessed Christ, joined church and was baptized at an early age. She was a member of the Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church where she sang in the choir, served on the mission Board and hospitality committee.She loved her church and was a faithful and devoted member.

In 1946 she met and married Zellie Newton Sr, and they had five children. Curtis James,  Ruby Faye, Shirley Ann, Lester Charles and Brenda Deloris.

Ms. Grays was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was employed by many: Crestview Nursing ( Nurse), Beverly Braley Boutique ( Sales), United Sewing Factory –  (Supervisor), A & M Expand Food Nutritional Program ( Field Nutritional Advisor) and many more. Her most proud achievement was working for herself. She owned several businesses, as a  professional seamstress, she did custom sewing & wedding planning and owned ” BB” s Fashions Just for you” a gift shop, “BB”s Gift Shop” and a Daycare Nursery School,” BB”s Play House.

She was a member of the Academy of Millinery Design, Bethume Women’s Club, African American Museum Committee and Ed Wilson Class Reunion Committe.

She had a love for fashion and fashion design. Much of her sewing business was from custom design. In most cases her clients saw garments or outfits that they had seen in magazines or had drawn on paper and she was able to make that extract design from scratch, she made purses and hats way before it was popular to do. She made beautiful shawls, gloves, coats, women and men suits and could even cover shoes to match an outfit.

In 1998 she married Robert Lewis Grays of Bryan, Texas. They were happily married until her recent departure. They were a loving couple and enjoyed watching their favorite show WWE Wrestling.

Ms. Grays departed life on Monday December 26, 2016 peacefully at home. She was preceded in death by her parents, her late husband Zellie Newton Sr, two sons, Lester ” Mickey” Newton, and Zellie Newton Jr; and one sister Devempa Earl of Midland, Texas.

She leaves to cherish her memory her loving husband Robert L. Grays; twin brother, Emmit Lee Sanders ( Ora) of Los Angeles, CA; two sons & one foster son, Rev. Curtis J. Sanders Sr, of Bryan, Tx; Curtis J. Sanders Jr. ( Patience) of Dallas, TX; and James Thomas Evans ( Doris) of Houston, TX; three daughters and one foster daughter, Ruby Ellis of Houston, TX; Shirley Poole ( Billy) of Bryan, Tx; Brenda Newton-Thompson ( Larry) of Dallas, TX and Loreah Johnson ( Tracy) of Austin, TX; Ten grandchildren; Angela Dean, Miosha Sanders, and Shaun Sanders ( Jennifer) of Bryan, TX, Tameka Thomas of Ft. Worth, TX, Shulon Sanders, Neteiko Walker ( Steven, Billy ” BJ” Poole Jr, Christopher Ellis all of Houston, TX; Omann Jamaal Newton and Jacobie Sanders both of Dallas, Tx; 12 great grandchildren; 4 great- great grandchildren; four stepsons; Robert L. Grays Jr, Edward Grays, Joe N. Grays and Thomas Grays ( Felecia) of Bryan, TX; and two stepdaughters, Deborah Grays ( Anthony) of Bryan, Tx and Candis L. Grays of Houston, Tx; two Goddaughters, Lakeisha Milstead ( Jules) of Bryan, Tx and Rosalind Hall of College Station, Tx and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.