Joseph Preston Wray, Jr. passed away Thursday, June 14, 2018 in Tryon, North Carolina at the age of 82.  Joe was born in Chesterfield County, Virginia to Joseph Preston Wray and Mary Cannon Wray on March 29, 1936.  He was a devoted husband, father and follower of Jesus Christ.  He also loved his community and committed most of his life to enrich both young and old, rich and poor, through education and the arts.

Joe received his Associates of Arts Degree from Bluefield College, his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Richmond, and his Master of Divinity Degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina.

Joe decided that his ministry gifts would best be used outside the traditional church context and began his career in education as an English teacher and Theater Coach in Hopewell, Virginia.  He then took a position as the Director of Public Information and Development at Bluefield College in Bluefield, Virginia.  In 1974 he moved the family to the Tryon area and began his work with the Tryon City Schools, first as the Community Schools Coordinator and later in the classroom teaching Social Sciences until his retirement in 1998 from the Polk County school system.  Retirement did not suit so he moved to Georgetown, SC and served as an adult education Social Studies teacher at the Howard Adult Center from 2000 until 2004.

Joe was very creative and a dreamer.  Both attributes came together during his tenure as Community Schools Coordinator when he lead a group of volunteers to create The Children’s Theater Festival – an annual Spring festival, now in its 40th year,  which brings performers and artists from around the country to perform for the families of Tryon and the surrounding area.  Tickets for each show are still priced low so that all may experience the creative arts performed at their highest level.

Joe was selfless and had a servant heart.  He cherished his church family at the First Baptist Church of Tryon where he served as a Deacon, teacher and choir member.  He also served on the local board of the American Red Cross and Steps to Hope, the Polk County Mental Health Board, the World Affairs Forum and was the Education Chair and Cultural Arts Facilitator for Partners of the Americas.  In 2017 Joe was inducted into the Second Wind Hall of Fame for his volunteer work in the community during retirement.

Joe loved music and working alongside young people and has directed musicals including Camelot, Fiddler on the Roof and Hello Dolly and won the top award in the University of Virginia Theater Competition.  He was very fond off all of the students he coached on the high school’s Model United Nations Simulation team that participated in major simulations of international organizations throughout the East coast.

He was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Mary Arlene McGuire.  He is survived by his loving wife and partner in ministry of 56 years, Frances Bishop Wray, and his three children Scott (Margaret), Monta Whitney (Wade) and Jeff (Erika).  He was very proud of his six grandchildren, Anne Hayden Wray, MacKenzie Wray, Molly Wray, Jared Whitney, Preston Wray and Jacob Wray.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, June17 at 3:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Tryon.  The family will receive visitors at the church before the service at 2:00 p.m. and at a reception following the memorial service.  The family would like to thank the loving care team at White Oak of Tryon nursing home and Hospice of the Carolina Foothills for their selfless service to Joe and family.  In lieu of flowers, donations would be welcome to either the Children’s Theater Festival (PO Box 422 Tryon, NC 28782) or the missions of First Baptist Church of Tryon (PO Box 1287 Tryon, NC 28782).

An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com

McFarland Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Tryon, North Carolina