Leona M. Bray

Crumpton, MD - Went to the Lord while surrounded by family members on May 2 ^nd , 2022. Leona was a loving person, kindhearted, filled with laughter, and had a smile that would light up the room. She was born April 21 ^st , 1935, in Wyoming, New York. She told of how she used mules to go down to the river to get water as a small child. Her family moved to Tucson, AZ in 1945 where she graduated high school in 1953. She also lived in Columbia, SC, Africa, Smyrna and Dover DE. She was married to Curtis Bray of Dover Delaware in 1976, of Brays Shoe Service; whose father had established the business in 1949. She worked at Kmart in Dover where she retired after 27 years; she was working at Reichhold Chemical Inc. which is where she met pop-pop. Curtis and Leona were regular attendees of the Gospel Concerts at Holiday Park in Goldsboro, MD. They were members of The Delaware Wanderers RV Club and thoroughly enjoyed traveling. Leona is loving referred to as mom-mom and momma goose. She is survived by her loving husband Curtis Bray, siblings- Arnold & Carol Russell, Alvin Russell, Lillian Lockee, children-Doug & Linda Long, Jennifer Bray, grandchildren- Amber & Jason, Crystal, Dana, Danielle, and 9 great grandchildren.

Services will be held 12 PM Monday May 9 at Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home, 123 W. Commerce St., with a visitation at 11 AM. Burial will be privately held.

To sign the online guestbook, please click the tab marked "Guestbook".

Arrangements are by Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Smyrna.

Mommom`s Eulogy

A Tribute to Leona Bray

Mommom`s sister Aunt Lil asked to have this read. Second Timothy Chapter 4 verse`s 7&8

7: I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Aunt Lil also said that this prayer was taught to them by their mother who said it over them, and that they said it as children.

Jesus, tender Shepard, hear me.

Bless Thy little lamb tonight.

Through the darkness be Thou near me,

Keep me safe 'til mourning light.

All this day, thy hand has led me,

And I thank Thee for Thy care.

Thou hast clothed me, warmed and fed me.

Listen to my evening prayer.

Let my sins be all forgiven,

Bless the friends I love so well,

Take me when I die to Heaven,

Happy there with Thee to dwell.

Mommom loved to tell stories, here are a few.

While she was living in Arizona. Every Sunday afternoon her mom would want everyone to lay down for a nap. After everyone did her dad would come and get her, and they would ride horses along the dry riverbeds. Once while riding her horse got spooked and took off. It rounded a bend, and a tree limb came right across her chest. She didn't fall off, but it gave her a good bruise. After that happened, she would still ride; she got back on the horse. That was her nature, to never give up.

Another story she told was where she had this old car in Conway, South Carolina. She said that thing burned oil like no tomorrow. And anytime she would go over the bridge in Conway she would put her foot to the floor and a cloud of smoke would go out and over the town. And every time she told that story she would laugh. She was a person of character and always liked to have fun.

While living at the old house in Smyrna mommom was going through some things in the attic once and found these old shoes. They were covered in mold and very nasty. She took them downstairs and set them by the door; where customers would put their shoes to be fixed. When poppop came home she told him, "someone had dropped off shoes to have work done." As he went to pick them up, he gagged, but said, "alright." She burst out laughing and said, "no you don't have to fix them they are from the attic." They did things like this all the time; always telling jokes and doing small things for one another.

A Poem for Mommom:

Wind I was and wind I am.
The river flows;

Carrying what you swear,
Sending what you let go.

Hear the sound;
Weeping tunes,
Over steps laden with sorrow.

I am on my way
To my mother's embrace;
To my rest.
For the earth is my mother,
And my grave.

Hear the sound,

Weeping tunes.
Twofold is the burn of wounds
Which no man can see.

She was a graceful lady who always tried to brighten people's day, encouraging right behavior, and tried to do one good deed for someone each day. Her favorite song was a Gospel song called Farther Along. Each Sunday when her and poppop went to breakfast they would listen to gospel music. And that song came on the radio almost every Sunday. She was a woman as brave and strong, and as good as anyone on this Earth. She will always be in our hearts; God bless her and rest her soul.

Written on Mother's Day May 8, 2022.

We love you Mom Mom, Jason and Amber