Andre (Holley) Gray

Andre Holley Gray, 83, of Aiken, SC passed away on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Funeral service will be held at two o’clock p.m., Sunday, June 1, 2025 at the First Baptist Church of Aiken with the Reverend John Carroll officiating. Burial will follow in the Aiken Memorial Park, 1523 Edgefield Hwy., Aiken, SC. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church in the parlor on Sunday.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are Nabra G. Asgedom, John Brown, Hector R. Colon-Mercado, Dalton Hare, Gregg A. Morgan, Jr., Benton C. Randall, Henry T. Sessions, Jr., Gregory C. Staack, and Joseph G. Wheeler.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Anchor Post-Acute Care and Hospice for all of the love, care and concern that they have shown to Andre during her stay.

Memorial contributions may be given to the SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare, 199 Willow Run Road, Aiken, SC 29801 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Born in the old Aiken County Hospital, Aiken, SC, she lived her entire live in Aiken. She was the daughter of the late Harry Brunson Holley and Sammie Cooper Holley. She dedicated much of her life to caring for her grandmother, Pearl Cooper, who was affectionately known as “Mother”. She was a former member of the First Baptist Church of Aiken where she married her late husband, Donald Robert Gray on June 14, 1975 and also worked with the Girls in Action (G.A.’s).  Later she became a member of Millbrook Baptist Church. She was a graduate of Palmer College and worked 60 years at SRNL. Having retired in 2022 being one of the longest serving employees at the Savannah River Site. She was the first admin-assistant at the Hydrogen Research facility when it started in 2006 where she “ruled the roost”. Mrs. Andre had beautiful cursive handwriting and was a proficient typist. She enjoyed the relationships that she built with her co-workers and she made many friends at SRS throughout the years. Linda Hootman and Andre graduated from Aiken High School the same year and later worked together for 16 years at Savannah River Site; they shared a special bond and remained friends throughout Andre’s life. She enjoyed bowling and participated in tournaments throughout the United States. Beverly Morrell was a very special friend to her, they enjoyed shopping, pedicures, manicures and going out to eat.  Everyone should have a friend as loving and caring as Beverly. Beverly was holding her hand and loving on her as she passed. She also had a special relationship and friendship with John Brown, who was the best neighbor anyone could have.  Her friends were always available to her and she could depend on them whenever she needed them.

Survivors include her cousins, Phil Cooper, Robert (Helen) Cooper, Michael (Linda) Cooper, Dale (Wanda) Bolen, Shelby (Dale) Bolen, Phyllis (Olin) Williams, and Lana (Chris) Hoover, Victor Cooper and all of her special friends.

Folk Funeral Home, Inc. and Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements. Visit our on-line registry at www.folkfuneralhome.com.

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