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Polly Gray of Kernersville calls Larry Gray, the second oldest of her five children, her miracle child. She remembers holding him tenderly and loving him soon after he was born at the former City Hospital in Winston-Salem. It was a great moment.

That was more than 58 years ago - Aug. 11, 1950. "I'm foolish over all of my children," said the 82-year-old widow. "I am very proud of Larry and what he accomplished in life. He was an inspiration."

Larry Gray was expected to live only a year after being born with a hole in his heart. Medication, good doctors and, perhaps, his own determination beat those odds until he had an operation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington to repair his faulty heart.

"His heart was so weak that it couldn't furnish enough blood to his brain (during the operation)," Polly Gray said. A complication with German measles at 3 was an additional strike against him.

His father, career Army veteran Joe Beason Gray, was pleased to see 64 men from his military unit donate blood to help Larry through the tedious operation, said Polly Gray.

The operation saved Larry but left him with an uphill battle to overcome brain damage, Polly Gray said. Larry Gray never blinked or complained; he took it all in stride. He survived fits of temper, special tutors and a group home to eventually become self-sufficient.

He was up to the challenge.

His family lived near several military bases until settling back in Kernersville in 1962 after Joe Gray left the Army.

As a teenager, Larry Gray got his own apartment in High Point. It was in High Point that Larry Gray became an icon - the guy who could be seen scooting around town on his moped for some 10 years and on a bicycle for another 25 years or more, said his best friend and younger brother David Gray of Kernersville.

"When he had his moped, he would ride to Greensboro and Kernersville, all around," David Gray said. "The reason he quit riding the moped was because they kept getting stolen. He had six mopeds stolen before finally switching to a bicycle," he said.

Larry Gray was known by appearance across High Point - the guy on the bicycle, or sometimes simply walking beside his bike. "I believe riding that bike kept his heart strong for many years," David Gray said.

Larry worked as a busboy in High Point for 20 years.

He rode his bicycle to church down on Green Street, and later, when the church moved, to Rotary Drive.

He joined Green Street Baptist Church in 1978, and in 2006 received the Light of the World Award from the church for 25 years of perfect attendance, said the Rev. Frank Hensley, one of the church pastors.

Hensley, whose family became a second family to Larry Gray, described him as "strong-willed, fiercely independent, stubborn, faithful, dependable, obstinate, bull-headed, lovable (and) loving."

"In his own way Larry poured himself out," Hensley said. "Larry faced tremendous challenges in life. Larry put himself out there when others in similar situations withdraw and live lives in seclusion or just not trying."
He described Larry "as a very private, very faithful man."

Larry Gray could not read, but could write his name, knew the alphabet and many multiplication tables. Pastors came to know quickly that they were expected to turn the pages of Larry's Bible to the Scripture lesson for the sermon.

If not, Gray would approach the pastor after the service started and hand the minister his Bible, waiting patiently until the Bible verses were found; then return to his seat on the front pew.

Larry Gray always favored the front pew, the place from which he dutifully would help pass the offering plates each Sunday. "You had better not mess with Larry's offering plate," said usher Larry Guy.

His bicycle would be propped in the church hallway to avoid tempting a thief. A couple of his bicycles were stolen over the years.

"The church took up money and bought him a new bicycle," said longtime church member Sallie Allgood.

"The next Sunday Larry came rolling that new bicycle down the aisle of the church honking the horn."
David Gray said his brother's challenges never kept Larry from enjoying:

• Seafood - "Only flounder."

• Old TV shows - favorites were "The Andy Griffith Show," "Gunsmoke" and "Bonanza," in that order. "He knew by what time the shows came on TV when it was time to take his medicine," David Gray said. "He had free cable TV in his apartment but he wouldn't let me hook it up. He was afraid it would get him mixed up on which channels his favorite programs came on." The rabbit ears antenna served Larry's purpose.

• John Wayne, Elvis Pressley, Clint Eastwood and gospel music - his collection of movies, records, tapes, photos and other paraphernalia was substantial. "Larry said, 'Before I die there is one place that I want to go and that's to Graceland,' he told me," said his mother. It was 1989 or 1990 when he got a chance to go with a tour group to Elvis' Memphis home, and "he talked about it for a long time," Polly Gray said.

• Bingo - "He'd save quarters so he could play," said Polly Gray.
• Puzzles - "He loved working puzzles and he didn't want you to help him," David Gray said.

Failing health forced Larry Gray to live at a High Point nursing home for the past couple of years. That's where Polly and David Gray visited him on Christmas 2008.

"He was too sick to come to Kernersville for the family gathering," David Gray said. Diabetes and other health problems were taking toll on him.

Larry received some presents, including a care package and poinsettia from the Salvation Army.

Among the family gifts was a puzzle from David.

David Gray got a call at 5 a.m. the following day. His best friend had passed away.

Hensley conducted a celebration of life service for Larry Gray on Dec. 28, with Larry's collection plate sitting atop the casket and his bicycle parked at the foot.

Hensley said, "Above all, Larry was a man of faith."

Contact Bob Burchette at bburchette@triad.rr.com