DR. MATTELIA B. GRAYS
07/26/1931 - 11/03/2022
Dr. Mattelia Bennett Grays was born on July 26, 1931, in Houston, Texas, to the Reverend Abel B. Bennett and Mrs. Delcia McNeal Bennett. Her siblings are Cornel Joseph Jefferson, Sr. (Retired) and the late Barbara Jefferson (Orlando, FL); the late Willie Mae Sanford (Los Angeles, CA); Joan Bennett McBride and the late Randolph McBride (Los Angeles, CA).
Dr. Grays attended HISD schools and graduated in
1948 as salutatorian of her graduating class at Booker T. Washington High School. She received a full-ride scholarship and attended Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Dr. Grays thrived and excelled in her studies. In 1952, she pledged and was initiated into Beta Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She received her B.A. degree from Dillard University in 1952 and was married to Horace Wesley Grays, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., the same year.
The couple has one daughter, Karen Grays-Gray (Benjamin Gray, son-in-law), a grandson, Kristopher John Howard (Jennifer Howard, granddaughter-in-law), and great-grandchildren, Karolina Austen Howard, and Kristopher John Howard, Jr., including numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces.
She received her M.A. degree with honors in special education from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She later received her Doctorate in educational administration from Pacific University in Sacramento, California, in 1985. She returned to Houston to teach in the Houston Independent School District. After several years with HISD and numerous roles later, she became District Three Superintendent of the Houston Independent School District in 1987.
Dr. Grays, during the Civil Rights era, was instrumental and the driving force in chartering 14 undergraduate chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated on predominantly white universities. During her term as Supreme Basileus, she chartered a total of 56 undergraduate chapters at predominantly white universities.
Her leadership and community involvement was vast. Dr. Grays was a proud charter member of the Port City Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.
Her favorite quote was,
“Life owes me naught, for I’ve lived my day!”
The life of Dr. Mattelia B. Grays will be celebrated at
The Fountain of Praise, 13950 Hillcroft Ave., Houston, TX 77085, Monday, November
14, 2022 at 10:30 am. The ceremony by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. will begin at 9:00 am. The ceremony by The Links, Incorporated will begin at 9:45 am.
Entombment will take place at Forest Park Lawndale - Mausoleum, 6900 Lawndale St., Houston, TX 77023.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the IEACF South Central Region Mattelia B. Grays/Julia B. Purcell EAF Scholarship: www.akaeaf.org/endowments
Her full obituary is located on her memorial page.