Mary Iva (Reinhardt) Gray

Mary Iva Reinhardt Gray, 80, of Chapel Hill passed away June 12, 2025. 

She was predeceased by her parents, Walter Reinhardt and Gwendolyn Parker Reinhardt; sister, Gwendolyn Reinhardt Lassiter; daughter-in-law, Hannah Bradley Gray; and her special uncle, Walter Parker. 

She is survived by her husband of 56 years, James R. Gray; her son, David Gray; her daughter, Meg Gray Wiehe and husband, Kevin Wiehe; and grandchildren, Elliot Wiehe, Anne Gray, Walter Gray and Emmett Wiehe. 

Mary Iva was born in Richmond, VA., and raised in the idyllic small town of Woodland, N.C., of which she enjoyed sharing stories of her childhood. She graduated from Catawba College and taught school in Richmond, VA., and Chula Vista, Calif., before she and Jim settled in his home of Wilkes County after his naval service. 

She taught at Millers Creek Elementary School before spending several years as a stay-at-home mother. After her children started school, she opened the Cricket Box, a gift shop in Wilkesboro. Over the years she employed many high school girls and women who became “Cricketeers” and lifelong friends and family. 

Mary Iva loved celebrating holidays and entertaining. At Halloween she often dressed up, made costumers for her children and baked homemade cupcakes for the neighborhood children. Her Christmas desert parties were ‘can’t miss” events for friends and neighbors. And her Christmas Eve lunches for employees and friends were a long-standing tradition enjoyed by all. She delighted in hosting bridal showers and wedding breakfasts for her friends’ children through the years. 

She relished being a second mom to her children’s friends and close friends to many. She loved to cook, read, watch sports, knit and share stories with friends on the phone. Her greatest pleasure later in life was being Mimi to her four grandchildren. She followed all of their activities closely, calling right after a game or play to check-in. They will always know she was their biggest fan.

She was a 40-year member of St. Paul’s in Wilkesboro, where she was very active, serving on committees and the altar guild. She turned a room in her home into a crafting area for many years for the church’s bazaar workshop. She became a member of Church of the Holy Family Episcopal Church after she and Jim moved to Chapel Hill. 

 During a period of declining health, Mary Iva received kind and loving care from a group of very special caregivers. Her family would like to thank Venice, La Precious, Alyssa and Aschley for their devotion. 

A committal service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 20, in the Coventry Chapel Garden of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 200 W. Cowles Street, Wilkesboro. A reception will follow in the church parish house.

The family asks that you dress casually, comfortably and colorfully. 

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests donations be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 200 W. Cowles St., P. O. Box 95, Wilkesboro, N.C., 28697.

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