The Texarkana Arkansas School District recently named Mrs. Remica Gray as the 2017-18 Arkansas High School Distinguished Alumna. Mrs. Gray is a life-time resident of Texarkana, AR. She is a class of 1969 graduate of Arkansas High School. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Southern Methodist University as well as two permanent professional certificates (in piano and music education) from the Music Teachers National Association. Mrs. Gray taught piano for over 30 years, worked for a time in music education with the Texarkana Special Education Center (now Opportunities, Inc.), and directed the Texarkana Women’s Chorus for 14 years. Her calling, both as a professional and as a volunteer, has been closely tied to the arts. Since she was a small child, she has been involved in the arts either as a student, performer, teacher, supporter, or an advocate for the arts and its importance in every aspect of life.
Volunteerism has been a way of life for Mrs. Gray. She enjoys giving back to the community which has given so much to her and her family. Over the years, she has been privileged to serve as the presiding officer for a number of organizations including the Texarkana Arkansas School Board of Education, The Junior League of Texarkana, Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council (TRAHC), Women for the Arts, Wadley Regional Medical Center Board of Directors, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, and the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra.
Mrs. Gray has received honors for her volunteer efforts from the Chamber of Commerce (C.E. Palmer Award for Civic Achievement), the Junior League of Texarkana, the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council, the Arkansas Education Association, the Texarkana Arkansas School District (Jack Hardy Award), the YWCA, Leadership Texarkana, Women for Texas A&M – Texarkana, and others. In 2015, she received the Arkansas Governor’s Arts Award for Arts Community Development and received the Governor’s appointment to the Arkansas Arts Council Advisory Board.
Mrs. Gray currently serves as full-time Volunteer Operations Director and Education Chair for the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra, Governance Chair on the Board of Directors for the Women for Texas A&M University-Texarkana, Worship Committee Chair for the Session of First Presbyterian Church (where she is also filling in as interim choir director), and Treasurer of the Arkansas Municipal Auditorium Commission.
Mrs. Gray is married to Danny Gray (45 years in August!), and they have two grown, married children – Lauren and David Black & Ginger and Alan Gray (3 of those are AHS graduates), one 13-year-old granddaughter (Emily), and 3 grandsons ages 8 (Ryan), 8 (Cale), and 6 (Carson).
The Texarkana Arkansas School District will honor Mrs. Gray on Thursday, March 8, at Arkansas High School.