James Chester Grey

James Chester "Chet" Grey III, 72, died Saturday, April 14, following a long struggle with Parkinson's and a shorter bout of acute leukemia. His last weeks were punctuated by visits and calls from friends around the country.
Chet was born August 15, 1945, in Atlanta, GA, to Laverne Margaret Partain and Douglas Talcott Grey, Sr. He grew up in Atlanta and graduated from the Marist School. He received a bachelor of arts degree in English history from Emory University in 1967 and a master of divinity degree from the School of Theology at the University of the South in 1970.
Chet began his long career in ministry as a curate at St. James Episcopal Church, Marietta, GA. He then served as an assistant rector at Grace Episcopal Church, Charleston, SC, and at St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Atlanta before he served as rector at All Saints Church, Warner Robins, GA, from 1973 to 1983. During his 1983 to 1993 tenure as rector of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in Atlanta, the church became known for its significant outreach to those in need, including the founding of Nicholas House to assist homeless families and Jerusalem House to assist those suffering from AIDS. He also served as a Navy Reserve Chaplain.

Chet was dean of Trinity Cathedral in Trenton, NJ, from 1993 to 1996 and from 1997 to 2000 worked with the staff at Saint Luke Institute, Silver Spring, MD.
In 2002, In 2002 Chet became director of homeless services for Washington, DC's Downtown Business Improvement District, a position he held until his retirement in 2012. Among the many achievements during his 10-year tenure, he conceived and led the joint Downtown DC-Pathways to Housing DC homeless services team, the city's only non-governmental, clinically based outreach group dealing with chronic homelessness. The team placed more than 200 Downtown homeless persons into permanent supportive housing and helped scores more obtain medical and mental health services, identification, transportation and other services.
He had been an active member of St. John's Episcopal Church, where he served as head of the altar guild.
Following his retirement Chet lived in Vale, NC, before moving to Washington, NC.
Survivors include five siblings: Christopher Perrin Grey, of Fredericksburg, VA; Douglas Talcott Grey III, of Stone Mountain, GA; Peter Andrew Grey, of Washington, DC; Sandra Grey Thayer, of Fairhope, AL; and Deborah Ann Grey Wheeler, of Ocean Springs, MS.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, April 30, 2018 at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, 1790 Lavista Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30329. Memorials may be sent to St. Bartholomew's or to St. John's Episcopal Church, 1525 H St NW, Washington, DC 20005.
You may share a memory with the family by visiting www.josephpaulfdl.com.
Joseph B. Paul, Jr. Funeral Director Licensee of Washington, NC is serving the Grey family.