Randy Gray Moore II
With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Randy Gray Moore, II, aged 51, a beloved son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. As Gray embarked on his journey to the heavenly abode, our hearts are heavy with the loss of such a remarkable soul; one gone too soon. The heavens themselves seem eager to welcome him, with previously departed loved ones racing to greet him as he enters his final eternal peace. On Saturday, April 20th, Uncle Mark and Aunt Jean Woolard welcomed the crowd to the night's main event. Aunt Geneva Congleton Zucker, Aunt Marcia Dare, Uncle Marian, cousin Junie Cutler and cousin Sammy Bridgman, Uncle Jimmy and cousin Terry Jackson, and Uncle Mark Hanna were all in attendance. Aunt Edna Moore Holloman was there too, and although you couldn't see him, you could hear Uncle Woody laughing in the crowd somewhere. This would be a race like no Everett's Crossroads front yard had ever seen before. You could hear the whispers of the attendees, as they discussed who each was picking to win. Horace Gray Moore (Be-Bop) and Edward "Ed" Congleton lined the runners up, as Uncle Mark gave the instructions for a clean race. As he shook each of their hands, he leaned in close to Wilma Woolard Moore and whispered, "Sister, you got this," as Janet (Jan) Moore Waters and Ann Congleton Moore took their positions. This was a race to meet their first favorite, Randy "Gray" Moore; he would be there soon. Gray was born on November 2, 1972, the first child to Randy Gray and Ann, the first grandchild to Horace and Wilma, and the first nephew to Jan (Lenny Waters), only ten years his senior. Annie Crisp Congleton (Town Grandmama) started the countdown, "On your mark, get set," and then Great-Grandma Marcia Lee Oden Moore yelled, "GO!" The race was on!
Jan gets a jump off the line on Ann and Wilma and takes the lead. Jan shared her love of music with Gray from an early age, teaching him to play the guitar while she played the piano. They were best buds. When Jan got her license, Gray always rode shotgun, making sure to let her know if he saw any spiders in the car. When Gray was old enough to start school, she showed him the ropes at Bath High School where he attended Kindergarten through 10th grade, graduating from Northside High School in June 1991. Although she was his aunt, he loved her like a sister, and he became her first favorite. Throughout his life, she had always been there for him when he needed her.
As Wilma closes in on Jan, Jan is distracted by Wilma's feet flying by her face in a surprise cartwheel maneuver. "Go, Sister, Go!," Uncle Mark shouts from the starting line, as Wilma takes the lead and Jan yells ahead, "No Cheating!." As Wilma's first grandchild, she had him all to herself, as did he. Gray watched her and Be-Bop work full time jobs and maintain a large garden that was picked before work or in the evening after a long day. By the time Gray could walk, he was working alongside them pulling weeds or picking beans and tomatoes. He saw Grandma work part time jobs to pay for Jan's piano or to have the ability to help those in need. It was not too many years later, Gray would be working in the fields for Pop. In the mid-90s, he moved to Chapel Hill and worked as an apprentice for Uncle Charlie (William Charles and Isabelle Congleton) at Smith-Congleton Hardware. In early 2000, he returned to Bath, NC and started his own business, Things Done Right, a fitting name for his A-Type personality. In 2012, Gray started working for Beaufort County at Animal Control and eventually transferring to Beaufort County Facilities Maintenance last serving as the Senior Maintenance Technician. Gray had many examples of those with incredible work ethic and mirrored this in his life; he was not afraid of work and many of his former employers would agree. The quality of his work reflected his personality.
Ann had a plan long before she heard "GO!" "Slow and steady," she told herself over and over again. She was his "Mama," and she had spent years of her life sitting through early morning Jets football games in Midget League, and hot summers watching him play baseball for National Spinning and Toms in the Little Tarheel and Junior Babe Ruth Leagues. She bundled up and braved the cold night air for Bath and Northside High School football games and sweated through his baseball games. She traveled near and far and sat in crowded gymnasiums to cheer him on for his basketball games. She always had his back and took his side in any argument. Ann had cried during many goodbyes when he would leave to go off on a new adventure and would grumble when he would drop his laundry off, secretly loving every moment knowing that he still needed her. It always meant that he would have to stop back by to pick them up, which would give her one more chance to see him before he was gone again. Ann had been running up and down the sidelines coaching the original six for many years. Rides home were spent going through play by play of what each of us should have done differently. She had been practicing, waiting to show us all she knew what she was talking about for all those years. This was HER race; this was HER time to shine. There was no way she would let anyone beat her getting to him first. As she pushed her legs to move faster and pulled ahead of Jan and Wilma, she could see him standing there giving HER that big 'ole grin. She began to smile as tears filled her eyes and Gray opened his arms wide. "I did it," she thought. She watched Gray begin to bend down, and she thought this is going to be a pick me up, swing me around kind of hug, and she couldn't wait any longer. As she reached out her arms, she saw a blur run by her feet. "Cocoa," Gray excitedly exclaimed while he stood back up, holding his miniature Poodle, "I have missed you so much," as Melissa Dawn Congleton Cosentino (Missy), his cousin, joins him in laughter.
This was Gray. If you knew him, you knew there was a joke coming, and it would probably be at your expense. You may not have seen him come into a room full of people, but you would either hear that exaggerated laugh or hear him fussing about something trivial, like how you had parked, within a few minutes. Gray accepted everyone for their flaws, after he made sure to point them out, and his family and friends loved him for his. Friends made in childhood remained in his life as he grew older. Over the years, the sun rose and set many days at Everett's Crossroads with Timothy Gurganus (Timmy), Wayne Fisher, David Grady (Donna), Bobby Herron, Cee Edwards, Chris Burbage, Steven Alligood, and a host of neighborhood guys playing whatever sport was in season at the time. He was proud of his accomplishments playing sports at Bath and Northside High School, and the memories made on the fields and on the court were never forgotten. He LOVED Carolina basketball and could not be bothered if there was a game on the television. When Carolina was playing, the only side conversations allowed were about the referee's bad call or the play the guys should have made instead; anything else had to be taken to another room.
He leaves behind, his father, Randy Gray Moore (Pop) and wife, Cheryl, Uncles and Aunts, Lenny Waters, Steve (Victoria), Eddie Congleton (Brenda), Charlie Congleton (Isabelle), Great-Aunt Phyllis Moore and children Michael, David, and Douglas, and Great-Aunt, Mary Moore Jackson and children, Gary and Joy Kronenfeld.
Brother Toby Moore (_____), and his sisters, Dare Moore (Allen), Mia Best (Jamie), Megan Moore (_____), and Ashley Cullipher (Ellis), all residing in the Bath area. (We still have some blanks available).
His cousins from Bath and nearby surrounding areas, Erin Waters Cutler (John Scott) and children, Caroline and Kenley, Lin Waters (Megan) and children, Wyatt and Grey, Markie Woolard (Jackie) and family, Patti Lynn Woolard and family, Debbie Bridgman and family, Heidi Dibble and family, Jason Cutler and family, Jade Moore Harris, and Lael Moore Pelt and son, James.
His cousins from afar, Al Zucker and family, Kent Zucker and family, Edward "Little Eddie" Congleton, Edward Congleton and family (Gavin, Chloe, and Carter), Lindsay Congleton (Kirsten) and family (Ethan, Riley, Luci, and Sophie), Henri Congleton (Dori), Steven Moore, and Jamie Moore and son, Ever.
Although Gray never married nor had any of his own "human" children, he leaves behind his cherished nieces, Maya Best (Atia) and Sophia Imes, and his nephews, Jameson Best, Cole Cullipher, Jules Moore, John Best, Caden Cullipher, Michael Imes, and Jase Best. He enjoyed watching his nephews play football, always the supportive coach excited to give each of them tips to improve their game.
A service to celebrate the life of Randy Gray Moore, II will be held at Athens Chapel Church of Christ, 35 Delia Wallace Road, Bath, NC on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Visitation will be held in the Fellowship Hall from 1 to 3 pm. The service will begin in the sanctuary at 3 pm. The burial will follow the service at the Moore Family Cemetery, 1970 Creek Road. The funeral service will be officiated by Chris Hux. Gray's nephews, Lin Waters, and John Scott Cutler will serve as pall bearers.
Online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com
Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Moore family.
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