I added pictures of Will Gray, he passed away 11/29/2019, he was born 5/17/1971, he was 48 - he was Sabrinah's Dad - Stephanie met him in 2005 when we moved to Habersham County, they were together as a couple until 2012, but remained friends until her death. Will was married but separated from his wife, Teresa, when he met Stephanie, but he told her he was divorced. Stephanie found out not only was Will still married but that she was pregnant in 2008 with Sabrinah, her and Will split up but got back together after Sabrinah was born. Will's divorce was final in 2009. They were together for 7 years - I asked Will after Stephanie passed if he ever loved my daughter, and he told me yes, and that he still did...I think she always knew that, she said he always asked her to come back...


Mr. William Dale Gray, age 48 of Commerce formerly of Nicholson, Ga., passed peacefully on November 29, 2019 at his home.

He was born on May 17, 1971 in Atlanta, Ga., to the late James Gray, Sr., and Suell Hawkins Partin. In later years he was taken in by Ronald and Mary Ann Lord who were instrumental in his life. He was a builder in the construction industry and member of New Hope Baptist Church of Nicholson, Ga.

He is survived by; a brother James Gray of Dalton, GA and sister Renae Donaldson of Tennessee. Two step sisters Janet Smith and Angela Hancox. Extended family members: Tina Ervin, Denise Waters, and Jeff Lord of the Commerce Nicholson area.

His children: Ayonsa Sanders, of Athens, GA Jared Gray, Laura Gray of Homer, Ga and Sabrinah Lundy, of Demorest, GA. Also, three grandchildren MaKiy, O'Laija, and Cohen.

Memorial Service will be Saturday December 21, 2019 2 PM at Erastus Christian Church. Minister Steve Parker officiating.

Coile and Hall Funeral Directors, 333 E. Johnson Street in Hartwell will be serving the family.

6 years later, Sabrinah was born, September 10th, 2008; Stephanie met Sabrinah's Dad while working in Commerce.  They lived together about 3 years before Steph found out she was pregnant with Sabrinah.  He already had 3 children, and told Steph he didn't want anymore, so she needed to abort.  She left, moved back home.  She thought she was in labor so a friend took her to Athens to the hospital, they turned her away, said it wasn't time yet and they headed back home...from Athens to Habersham county...well, she didn't make it, Sabrinah popped right out on the way home, her friend pulled into the parking lot of a church, and called 911, the closest hospital was in Royston, so Steph was taken there, and that's where Sabrinah's birth certificate says she was born, but she wasn't.  True miracle story...Steph always told me it happened so quickly that she doesn't even remember pain, just a major cramp, pushing, and "tada"...this was in 2008.  She stayed in the hospital for observation that night and the next and then she was released...her and Sabrinah's Dad attempted to make it work, but again, she had picked another abusive relationship plus he was/is an alcoholic, I got the call to come and get them late one night…I saw with my own eyes the true colors of this man who was very good at portraying someone decent…he was not…he not only had her in a choke hold, but threw her down the stairs, took Sabrinah away from her and threw her on the bed, it was horrible, I called 911, never heard if the police showed up or not because as soon as possible I got everyone in the car and left.  She dealt with him off and on throughout the years, he always promised to help financially but never did, and threatened her to not ever put him on child support…She did, however meet 2 really good men in her life, one named Daniel, and her last, named William…I’m glad she met them, and knew what it was to be treated with respect and love.  Stephanie was 28 when Sabrinah was born, and turned 29 later that month...

Stephanie was born by Caesarean section at 11:45 pm, she was then taken to the special care nursery for observation, in 1979 caesarean delivery was performed under anesthesia, so all I remember was being scared ( first birth) and counting from 100 backwards as far as 99 was all I got, then waking up to be told I had a beautiful baby girl…I remember finding out I was pregnant, being terrified at all the horrible delivery stories I had heard, although my sister had already given birth to 2, I was still scared.  So…I loved being pregnant.  I remember the first time I felt her move, I asked my sister what is this, she felt my stomach, and said that’s the baby moving… It was the most wonderful feeling ever; I tingled from head to toe…

She was a hard child to follow for her 2 brothers, she was the most perfect baby, child, teenager, any mother could ever wish for.  Never gave me any problems, very loving and sweet as could be.  I always received compliments on her from every one; teachers loved having her in their class.  Jamel came 4 years later, then Josh 8 years after Jamel.  Her best friend was Summer Spencer, who lived in the neighborhood behind us.  They were inseparable, Summer was such a good friend, and Stephanie had a hard time when they moved to Florida, she never had that kind of friendship with anyone else, they stayed friends always, and communicated as often as possible over the years…

She dealt with jealousy when she was a teenager, after all not only was she a sweet girl, but she was cute, and everyone liked her, so she soon learned how backstabbing jealous girls can be and how rumors are spread…She always worried what others said, guess that was something she picked up from my Mom, who was always more concerned with what was said or what society thought, anyway, Stephanie didn’t learn until later on in life that it doesn’t really matter what people think as long as your being true to yourself and respecting you.  So she had a variety of friend, not all that I approved of, some really scary, and some troublemakers, but she always found the good in everyone, and asked that I give them a chance.  I can only think of 2 friends that I wish I had closed the door on, but she did, eventually, shut them out of her life.

After high school, she started seeing Sabrah’s Dad…she had been offered a modeling career but liked the “bad” boy type… (which he really wasn’t until later on in life), he was abusive, and caused a wreck while she was driving, she hit her head, went to the hospital, and it left a scar on her face above her nose…the modeling notion was a done deal, at least in her eyes after that…

She had been told when she was 17 that she would never have children, so she dealt with that, excepted it, and planned her life accordingly, then she found out she was pregnant with Sabrah…she was so excited, and expected Sabrah’s Dad to feel the same, but he didn’t, he could have cared less.  Sabrah was born in Athens, GA on April 25th, 2002.  The delivery went smoothly considering how tiny Stephanie was, normal child birth, we were worried she might have had to have a Caesarean also.  The father showed up, didn’t stay, and didn’t sign her birth certificate….that was the end of that relationship, and Stephanie and Sabrah moved back home.  Stephanie was 22, she turned 23 later that year in September..