Charles Louis McCray

Obituary

Charles Louis McCray was born in Miami, Florida on September 19, 1939. He was the middle son born to the late Liliouise Simmons McCray and James McCray. Charles was educated in the Jacksonville, Florida Public School system.

As a young man Charles took on many different jobs to help provide for his family. In the early sixties he migrated north to New Jersey where he felt more opportunities awaited him. He and his family settled down in Elizabeth, NJ.

Charles being the industrious person he was went into business for himself at the age of 32. Within a few years after relocating to New Jersey— he founded the CLM Office and Floor Cleaning Service and ran a successful Office Cleaning business for many years.

Charles also worked at the New Brunswick Theological Seminary for nearly two decades, but more than his work, he will be remembered for his presence and his devotion to his family and community. Charles was a humble but an impactful man. He did everything for everyone, and he never said too much about it. He was the backbone of his family and a pillar of support within our community.

He was a member of Central Brick Presbyterian Church in East Orange, N.J. where he served as Deacon before returning to Florida, settling in Palm Coast and becoming a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church.

He was a Silver Life member of the African American Cultural Society, a long-time member of The Men of AACS, a member of the Flagler County Branch NAACP since 2003, and the New York City Transit Retirees of Florida, where his wife Marie Winston-McCray was President.

While Charles was active in community-centered civic engagement, he also enjoyed playing cards with his buddies; he was an avid bid whist and double deck pinochle player and a member of the “Cards n Such” social club. Bowling, traveling, and cruising, in the Caribbean Islands were some of his favorite pastimes. But what his wife will miss most is his companionship. They were more than partners; they were loving friends, so the time they spent relaxing at home watching the Evening News or Sunday Night Football, bantering back and forth with one another for a laugh, are the cherished memories that will endure even as he has gone home to glory.

Charles leaves to cherish fond and loving memories his wife of 35 years Marie Winston-McCray his daughters Venita McCray, Charlesetta McCray Johnson, Sherry Muse (Scott), Lynette Tucker, Stacy Harrison, and Belinda Brown; his sons, Prince and Lawrence McCray, (Cassandra) Carlton Smith and Marcus Brown (Tabriz), a stepson Michael Winston (Victoria), a stepdaughter Felicia Damon, and a loving sister Doris Williams of Jacksonville, Florida, and a host of other dear relatives and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, October 20, 2023 at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Palm Coast, Florida, and the family will receive friends at the African American Cultural Society at 1:00 PM. Arrangements are under the direction of Baldwin Brothers Funeral & Cremation Society.

-The Family