Barbara Ann Chenault Gray

Barbara Ann Chenault Gray, 84, of Midlothian, Virginia won her biggest race on September 23, 2026. Barbara was born in Richmond, Virginia, daughter of Mary Virginia Borum and Melvin Franklin Chenault. After a childhood in Hanover, she graduated from Mars Hill College before attending Wake Forest University and Richmond Professional Institute, now known as Virginia Commonwealth University. 
Barbara studied music and social work and those learnings she applied throughout her life. Upon graduating, she was a social worker for the City of Petersburg and City of Richmond. She also worked at Chesterfield County Public Schools for evaluating children with learning disabilities and was a counselor with the Virginia Department of Rehabilitation. Barbara was a relief organist in both Petersburg and Richmond and served as the choir director of First Baptist Church in Petersburg. It was in Petersburg where she met her loving husband, Franklin Wayne Gray. 
Barbara loved needlepoint, counted cross stitch and knitting, even making her own wedding dress. Through the years, her positions included the President of the Federated Women's Club of Petersburg and board member of Southside Area Chapter of American Red Cross. With the birth of her children, Barbara focused on managing the finances of the family business, Gray's Drug Store. While raising her children, she was director of both the Country Club of Petersburg Swim Team and Vacation Bible School at Walnut Hill Baptist Church. She was known for being the loudest voice at swim meets and having the greenest lawn in her neighborhood. 
Upon hitting a milestone birthday, she picked up the sport of running through Richmond Sports Backers and loved the dear friends she made with her City Stadium Runners group while training for the Monument 10K and Richmond half marathon. After raising her own children, she stayed close to many, many other children as a music teacher at Brandermill Church Preschool for 23 years. During this time she loved to vacation, with her favorite trips taking place across Italy and Switzerland. 
In her later years, she devoted time to Mount Hermon Baptist Church in Moseley, Virginia and often played hymns during Sunday services. Barbara is so grateful to her faithful callers, strength trainer, and care team under Dr. William Irvin for all the extra years since her metastatic breast cancer diagnosis. While she will be missed by her husband, daughters Elizabeth and Virginia, brother Melvin Chenault, sister-in-law Cathryn Paul, and three grandchildren Amelia, Gray, and Chansonetta, she will be providing many "God winks" and looks forward to their heavenly reunion. 
A celebration of life will take place on her birthday, Saturday, October 24th, 2026 at Mount Hermon Baptist Church located at 18100 Genito Rd Moseley, VA 23120. There will be visitation at 10:30am, service at 11:30am, and a lunch gathering after the service. 
Gifts in Barbara's memory can be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center or Mount Hermon Baptist Church.
The family is being served by the Chester Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com.