IN LOVING MEMORY OF Olivia Gray Hervey

Mrs. Olivia Gray Hervey was born February 27, 1938 in Crandall, Texas to Wilmer and Ocie Gray. As a child, she attended Good Street Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. Olivia excelled in school graduating at the top of her Lincoln High School class in 1956. Her academic excellence continued at Prairie View A&M University. She majored in Business Administration with a Minor in English, graduating at the top of her class in 1960. After graduating, she married Billy T. Hervey. Career opportunities led them to Dallas, Texas, Altus, Oklahoma, Baltimore, Maryland, Washington, D.C, and Cocoa, Florida finally settling in Houston, Texas in 1965.

Olivia started her career as an educator teaching English at Lincoln High School, Dallas, Texas, Altus High School, Altus, Oklahoma and Phyllis Wheatley High School, Houston, Texas. Her federal government career began at the General Services Administration (GSA) in Baltimore, Maryland and later Washington, DC. She also worked at Patrick Air Force Base, Brevard County, Florida.

Olivia worked at the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office advancing to her position as an Assistant Director. She retired in 1999. Her retirement years were filled with travel throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Caribbean. She became a successful Real Estate broker selling properties in the MacGregor and Southwest Houston areas. Olivia was a faithful member of Trinity United Methodist Church where she sang in several choirs. In addition, she served in several leadership positions within the VA Toastmasters club and she was a dedicated member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

Olivia is preceded in death by her parents, Wilmer O. Gray, Sr. and Ocie Bell Gray, Siblings; brother, Wilmer O. Gray, Jr. and her sister, Merfay Gray Brooks.

Olivia was a devoted and loving mother. She is survived by three children: Jewel Hervey, Marcus Hervey, and Patrick Hervey, two daughters-in-law, Tracie Shelton Hervey and Carolyn Hurst Hervey, five grandchildren, Mckenzie, William, Theodore, Lauren and Landon; five brothers, Brucy Gray (Ethel), Edward Gray (Joyce), Maceo Gray, James Gray (Carol), and Everette Gray (Sharon); one sister, Mary Gray Batts (Marshall), and a host of nieces, nephews and relatives.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to be made to Olivia Gray Hervey’s Endowment Scholarship Fund at Prairie View A&M University, Office of Development, PO Box 393, Prairie View, Texas 77446.