Julia Nance Gray

It is with great sadness that the family of Julia Nance Gray, 71, announces her passing on May 11, 2025, following a brief illness.  A much-loved mother, grandmother, sister, daughter and friend, Julia was born on October 2, 1953 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as the fifth and final child of Philip and Esther Gray.  She graduated from Myrtle Beach High School in 1971, before earning a bachelor’s degree in French (’75) and a Master of Arts in Education (’92), both from Furman University. 

After earning her degree in French, Julia put her language skills to work as a technical translator with Michelin.  Julia spent nearly her entire career with Michelin before retiring in 2015.  She had a long-time passion for gardening and was known to spend countless hours tending to beautiful landscapes she curated.  She also maintained strong interests in history and the arts, which she passed along to her children and “grands” by germinating, nurturing, and celebrating their creative and intellectual interests. 

Julia is survived by her son Denis Thomas and wife Adrienne of Poolesville, MD; daughter Nicole Facemire and husband, Scott of Hardy, VA; grandson Gabriel Thomas; granddaughters Madeleine and Chloe Thomas and Ellen, Katie and June Facemire; brother Bob Gray and wife Karen of Myrtle Beach, SC; sister Nelda Ball and husband Dan of Columbia, SC; and countless nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her parents Philip Gray and Esther Nance Gray; her sister, Ellen Gray Chapman; her brother Dan Gray; sister-in-law April Gray; and sister-in-law Marjorie Gray.

A visitation will be held on Friday, August 8th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at McMillan-Small funeral home at 910 67th Ave N, Myrtle Beach, SC.   Memorial services will be held on Saturday, August 9th at 10:00 am, also at McMillan-Small.  Graveside services to follow at Ocean Woods Memorial Cemetery.

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