Thelma McCray

I am truely sadden to find on here that Aunt Toni passed away. She is now with her sisters resting in peace. She was an extraordinary woman and deeply loved by her family.

My sincere condolences to the family of Thelma McCray. She was truly a woman who loved God I remember her serving at Peace Baptist in the Senior Choir and Willing Workers. She always served with a smile Now it's time to rest from your labor,and claim that eternal peace with the Lord.

Lit a candle in memory of Thelma McCray

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Heavenly Father took to His eternal home His precious and devoted child Mrs.Thelma Mother McCray. Her heart was gold and her spirit filled with love and kindness adorned with a soul full of peace and joy the world could not destroy.See you soon Mother.

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Mrs. Thelma McCray was born July 14, 1911, in Cincinnati, Ohio in the same bed her mother, Isabelle Johnson, was born. The family lived on Westwood at Montana Avenue, unusual for an African-American family. In fact, they were the only African-American family living in the area. Her Grandfather, George Washington, was the first African-American to become a train conductor on the Gamble Train line. Her father Was James Washington. Standing 4’11’’ and wearing size 51/2 shoes, Mrs. McCray was honored in April of 2003 by Mayor Luken as the oldest living World War I widow in the State of Ohio. April 25th was designated Mrs. Thelma McCray Day in the city of Cincinnati. Prior to that day, the honor belonged to Mrs. Louvenia Armstrong-Coatney of Dayton, Ohio, who died in March of 2003 at the age of one hundred and one. My first time at the Cotton Club in the old Sterling Hotel was comical. I had never danced the jitterbug before and a young man asked me to dance. While we were dancing, he let go my hand and stepped back, so I went and sat down. He came over and asked we why I was sitting down and I told him I thought when he let go my hand; he didn’t want to dance anymore. He smiled and informed me that was part of the dance. I was embarrassed. I went to other clubs like the Paradise Lounge on Plum Street and the Play Bowl. My first job was with my sister at the Findlay Market. I later became a babysitter and a Nanny working for Dr. Nelson and Dr. McClung and helping to raise his daughters, Laurie and Cheryl “ My first time on the train, I went to Paducah, Kentucky with my mother-in-law to celebrate my honeymoon, even though my husband, Oscar McCray, was back in Cincinnati working. We were married February 1st, 1935 in my mother’s home at 545 Armory Avenue in the Laurel Homes in the West End. Oscar and I met after he came out of the service and was selling insurance for The Supreme Mutual Life Insurance Company. I was 18 and he was 28.

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.