On November 23, 1955, a beautiful baby girl was born to Robert L. and Willie O. Gray. They named her Pearlie Virginia. She was a very happy baby. When she was two months old, she was diagnosed with Rheumatic Fever which left her with a physical disability. Her parents were told that she would never walk nor talk. With a lot of faith and prayers, not only did she walk and talk, she could run.

Pearlie attended The Mohican School and The Arc of Baton Rouge. She was active with several day habilitation programs over the years. while Pearlie had no children of her own, she did have the closeness of several awesome caregivers over the years.

Pearlie leaves to cherish her memories - a sister Annie Gray-Mealey of Houston, Texas; five brothers including, Robert Gray Jr., Joseph Gray, Richard Gray, and Lionel Gray all of Baton Rouge, and Hayes L. Gray of Houston, Texas. She also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.