The story behind Gray.

Allen and I were talking tonight about the name Gray and what it means to us.  I wanted to write this down while it's fresh in my mind, and before I forget the details.  We decided on the name Grayson because Gray is a family name (and should technically be our last name).

Allen's grandpa, Clair Wilcox, was born as Clifford Gray to Harlan & Amy Gray (Jones).  Shortly after he was born, his mother passed away.  When he was 4 years old, his father remarried and his new wife convinced him to give up Clifford (Clair) and his two older sisters to an orphanage.  This was a very traumatic time for Clifford, as you can imagine.  This orphanage split up the boys and the girls, so Clifford was separated from his sisters.  Later, he had memories of being in the yard and holding hands with his sisters through the chain-link fence, crying.  Shortly after, Clifford was adopted the by the Wilcox family.  William Wilcox had no sons and wanted a son, so he adopted Clifford and renamed him Clair Wilcox.  One of his older sisters was also adopted by another family.

I don't know HOW anyone can convince you to give up your own kids! :(  Harlan & Amy were very much in love, and I'm sure it broke him when Amy passed away.  I imagine he had a lot of emotional issues at the time, and was unwell. The Wilcoxes were good to Clifford/Clair and loved him and treated him like a son.

Shortly after I married Allen his family contemplated changing their/our name back to Gray.  Obviously, we didn't, but we wanted to honor the name Gray by naming our son Grayson.