Gray was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, but grew up in Memphis, Tennessee.
She earned an honorary doctorate from Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington.
Gray's efforts put Damavand in the forefront of higher education for women in the Middle East.
[4] Gray received the Gold Medal of the Cedars from Lebanon's president.
In 1973 she was awarded The Order of the Taj by the Shahanshah Mohammad Reza Shah for her service to Damavand College and Iran.