Rev. Joel William "Bill" Gray of Pocahontas, passed from this life Sunday, February 27, 2022. He was born April 10, 1933 in the Giles Spur Community in Walnut Ridge to James Robert and Georgia Manoula (Adrian) Gray. Bill married Billie Jean Henderson on October 13, 1951. They were married for 69 years. His kids remember him as a loving father and a hell, fire, and brimstone preacher. He was an avid Biblical prophecy teacher and preacher. Brother Gray pastored in Randolph County for 65 years. His kids said his greatest loves were Billie Jean, preaching, fishing and the 5 string banjo.

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, seven brothers and two sisters.

He is survived by three children, Mike (Debbie) Gray, Donna (Jerry) Cochran,  Tommy Gray; seven grandchildren, Allison (Brad) Bouland, Garret Gray, Lauren Gray, Brook (Zeo) DosSantos, Tara (Michael) Maupin, Jerod Cochran, Carrington (Ashley) Gray; 14 great-grandchildren, Darby Bouland, Colby (Cody) Binkley, Weston Joy, Grayson Jordan, Shelby (Hunter) Jarrett, Grayson Maupin, Braxton Maupin, Zion DosSantos, Zayli DosSantos, Bentley DosSantos, Kingston Cochran, Ashton Gray, Avery Gray, and Cullen Gray.

Visitation will be held at United Pentecostal Church on 1003 N. Park Street in Pocahontas, AR on Thursday, March 3, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with funeral following at 1:00 p.m. Jerry Cochran and Michael Maupin will officiate. Interment will follow at Lawrence Memorial Park in Walnut Ridge, AR. Honored to serve as pallbearers are his grandson: Garret Gray, Brad Bouland, Zeo DosSantos, Jerod Cochran, Michael Maupin, Carrington Gray, Grayson Maupin, and Hunter Jarrett. Honorary pallbearers will be Gary Bibb, Frank Phillips, Rex Gentry, Everett Hart, Rick Hart, Tim Potter, David Smith, Gary Gray, James Robert Gray, and David Gray.