NEWSOMS — Gracie Britt Gray Story went home to be with the Lord on Oct. 17, 2016.

Mrs. Story was a native of Southampton County, Virginia. She was born on Feb. 12, 1918, to the late Leo L. and Mary Whitley Britt. Mrs. Story was predeceased by her first husband of 42 years Elvin T. Gray, and her second husband of three years, Jessie G. Story. She was also predeceased by her daughter, Brenda Gray Francis; a sister, Josie B. Butler; and three brothers, Herbert, Archie and Franklin Britt.
Mrs. Story was a faithful member of Barnes United Methodist Church and its UMW, and she was also a member of the Golden Age Club. She lived in a warm friendly community and loved her church and church family.
Mrs. Story was known as the “Avon Lady” in her community for 25 years.
Survivors include two daughters, Audrey G. Pope and her husband, James, of Courtland; and Catherine G. Parker and her husband, Frank, of Franklin; one stepson, James Story and his wife, Marie, of Franklin; one sister, Alice B. Oakes of Ivor; one brother, James Britt of Rocky Mount, North Carolina; one sister-in-law, Elizabeth Britt of Walters, Virginia; six grandchildren, Frankie Pope of Courtland; Debra P. Cobb (Johnnie) of Murfreesboro, North Carolina; Susan P. Darden (Jay) of Newsoms; Steve Pope of Nags Head, North Carolina; Tommy Parker (Shelly) of Verona; and Sherry P. Colbert (Robby) of Virginia Beach; 12 great-grandchildren, Sabrina P. Lee (Joey), Jamie Cobb (Jennifer), Amanda C. Cotton (David), Katie C. Shoemaker (David), Brian Darden (Julie), Adam Darden, Brittany Carr (Ryan), Dillon Pope (Amanda), Benjamin Colbert (Jenna), Glenn Colbert, Jordan Parker and Holly Parker; six great-great grandchildren, Lawson and Brantley Cotton, Savannah and Brandon Lee, Briley Darden and Ellie Marie Colbert; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff at East Pavilion for the care she received and the kindness she was shown.
The funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20, in Wright Funeral Home, Franklin, with the Rev. Ian Hackmann and the Rev. Darwin Edwards officiating. The burial will follow at Beechwood Cemetery, Boykins.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday in the funeral home, and suggests that in lieu of flowers memorial donations be made to Barnes United Methodist Church c/o Betty Darden, 33701 Statesville Road, Newsoms, VA 23874.
www.wrightfuneralhome.org.