Loring A. Gray, Jr.

The Honorable Loring A. Gray, Jr. 78, of Albany, died Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital.

Visitation will be held at 12:30 PM this Saturday, February 28th at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 212 North Jefferson St, Albany, GA 31702 and funeral beginning at 2:00PM. A reception will follow at The Bread House, 520 North Jefferson St, Albany, GA 31701.

Born at Portsmouth Naval Hospital, VA, June 8, 1947 to Loring A. and Virginia Gray, he graduated from Classen High School, Oklahoma City, OK in 1964, attended Austin College, Sherman, TX, and went on to serve in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Kitty Hawk in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War.

Following his military service, he married Virginia in 1969 while attending and graduating from the University of Georgia undergraduate program. Loring then obtained his Juris Doctorate “not a MD” from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1976. He immediately began his law career as an Asst. District Attorney with the Dougherty County District Attorney’s Office. He spent time in private practice, largely as a partner with Hodges, Erwin, and Gray, until Governor Joe Frank Harris appointed him to the Dougherty County Superior Court. Judge Gray was Chief Judge for most of his 30 years on the bench. He was instrumental in guiding the remodeling of the courthouse and was a beloved figure among all that worked in and around it. He was a formidable presence on the bench but often displayed his humor, wit, and compassion in unique ways. The latter was evident during his favorite, Adoption Days.

After retirement, he served as Senior Judge in the GA Superior Court system and as a private mediator. Judge Gray was a member of the Council of Superior Court Judges, GA Bar Association, Mock Trial, Gridiron Secret Society, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where he taught Sunday School, served as an usher and was on the Vestry. His altruistic persona is best embodied by the Latin motto Sic Vos Non Vobis. ++

When not serving in a professional capacity you could find “The Judge” orchestrating UGA tailgate parties from his condo in Athens, cycling, preparing Christmas Day brunch, and enjoying his time with family and friends. He relished quail hunting at Pebble Ridge Plantation, fishing with his friends at Calloway Gardens, and loved the opportunity to visit the chef in any fine restaurant. Loring was on the pit crew for an endurance race team, loved traveling to the Bahamas fishing with friends, and was a closet Parrot Head.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Virginia Looney Gray.

Survivors include son, Russell Gray (Lynn), daughter, Liz Gray Barfield (Matt), sister in law Cecelia Looney Jordan; grandchildren, Ansley, Will, Lilia, siblings, Mary Millar (John), Judy Robinson, Tom Gray (Cyndee), Peter Gray (Jane), Paul Gray, Susan Melaugh (John) and a host of nieces and nephews. Special thanks goes out to his loving and patient caregivers Alfreda Shelton and Terrianna Martin.

The family will receive friends in the church parish hall from 12:30 to 2:00 PM, Saturday, February 28, 2026, with services following. A reception is planned at the Bread House at the conclusion of the services.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church General Fund, Flint River Habitat for Humanity (2815 Old Dawson Rd, Albany, GA 31707), or the UGA Foundation (www.give.UGA.edu).