Harry Elmo Bray (1921-1962)

Harry Bray Dies; Caswell Civic Leader

Harry in WWII

Providence, N.C. -- Harry Elmo Bray, Caswell County civic leader and owner and operator of the Harry E. Bray Insurance Agency, died Monday afternoon at 12:15 in Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. He was 41. Mr. Bray died less than 24 hours after undergoing heart surgery at the hospital Sunday night. Although he had been in ill health for several months, his condition had not been considered critical until last week. His death was unexpected among the many persons who knew him as a vigorous worker on numerous civic projects. A native of Caswell County, he was born Oct. 17, 1920, and was the son of W. E. and Annie Williams Bray of Blanch. He was educated in county schools.

In 1955, the Caswell County Junior Chamber of Commerce presented him its Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his numerous civic activities. At the time of death, he was serving his second term on the Insurance Advisory Board of North Carolina. He was a past president of the Yanceyville Kiwanis Club and a former member of the Caswell County Board of Health. He also was president of the Cobb Memorial Parent-Teacher Association and was a life member of the PTA. He was equally active in the Providence Baptist Church where he was a member and served as teacher of the Young Men's Bible Class and as president of the church Brotherhood. In recent years, Mr. Bray headed numerous safety campaigns and frequently worked with North Carolina highway patrolmen in promoting highway safety.

During World War II, he served in the Pacific Theatre with the Corps of Engineers. After the war, he returned to the county and established the insurance agency which he built into one of the largest in the county. His offices were at Providence.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife, the former Nettie Ware of Providence, whom he married Nov. 24, 1944; one son, Wayne, of the home; one brother, Edward Bray of Blanch; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock from the Providence Baptist Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The body will rest at Barker Funeral Home in Danville, Va. The family will be at the home here.

Source: The Danville Register (Danville, Virginia), 23 January 1962, Tuesday, Page 9.
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A native of Caswell county, Harry E. Bray was born October 17, 1920, and was the son of W. Elmer [Elmo] and Annie Williams Bray. During World War II he served in the Pacific Theater with the Corps of Engineers. After the war he returned to the county and established the Harry E. Bray Insurance Agency at Providence in the fall of 1948. At the time of his death he was serving his second term on the Insurance Advisory Board of North Carolina. In 1955 the Caswell County Junion chamber of Commerce presented him its Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his numerous civic activities.

Harry Bray was past president of the Yanceyville Kiwanis Club and a former member of the Caswell County Board of Health. He was a life member of the P.T.A. and was also active in numerous civic, county, and community projects. Harry Bray was equally active in the Providence Baptist Church of which he was a member, serving in many capacities.

Harry Bray was married to Nettie I. Ware of Providence. Their son, R. Wayne Bray, married Linda Burke of Yanceyville and their children are Harry Wayne Bray and Leigh Anne Bray.

Source: The Heritage of Caswell County, North Carolina, Jeannine D. Whitlow, Editor (1985) at 628 ("Harry E. Bray").