By Ken Camp
Jim Gray, 68, associate senior adult minister at First Baptist Church of Woodway, Texas, near Waco, was killed Jan. 30 in a head-on crash as he drove to the church for Wednesday night services.
The accident happened a month and a day after the death of the church’s senior pastor, Mike Toby, to cancer.
Gray was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver, 89-year-old Elmer Franks, was flown to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center by helicopter, where he later died.
Gray, a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, joined the church in 1999, according to First Woodway’s website.
He is survived by his wife, Kay; sons, Richard, Steven and Michael; daughter, Linda; and grandchildren.
Pastor Mike Toby, 65, died on Dec. 29 at his home after he was diagnosed with brain cancer in October. After the diagnosis giving him three-to-six months to live, Toby posted a video on the church website counting his blessings and looking forward to his “homecoming.”
“So, any prayer you are offering on my behalf is not for healing,” he said in the video message. “Any healing comes when I am released into the arms of my Savior.” Gray, who possessed a beautiful singing voice, sang at the pastor’s funeral.
Gray’s funeral is scheduled for 4 p.m., Monday, Feb. 4, at First Baptist Church in Woodway. Visitation is 2-4 p.m. Sunday at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home in Waco. Graveside services will be at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas.