Manley Gilcrist Bray

SURNAMES: BRAY, GILCRIST, FAULK, BRYANT, LIVELY, FARNEY, CLARK, WOOLEY, BARBOR, COWART

Manley Gilcrist Bray, b December 1, 1873 in Arkadelphia or Malvern, Arkansas, d December 16, 1949 in Falls County, Texas - a son of Allen Jacob and Sarah Ann (Gilcrist) Bray of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, whose thirteen children were: James Bray, Cos Bray, Sarah Jane Bray, Manley Gilcrist Bray, Hettie Bray, Paralee (Bray) Holt, Francis Bray, Dr. Lee Bray, Rhodes Bray, Thursday Bray, Woodson Bray, Julia (Bray) Smith, and an infant who died.

In 1896, Manley Gilcrist Bray embarked for Texas, walking most of the way. He settled in the Chilton area of Falls County, working on the Bill Maxey Farm. He, then, established a business of his own with a shoe shop, barber shop, grocery store, and general mercantile enterprises - including hardware and an undertaking establishment - all becoming one of the largest business firms in Chilton. Today, his building houses "Joan's Kitchen," a cafe operated by Joan Faulk.

In 1899, Manley married Willamae Bryant, b May 21,1878 in Chilton, d September 20, 1947 - a daughter of John Wesley and Sarah Ann (Lively) Bryant, and they reared to adulthood, four of their five children:
Woodson Lee Bray, b September 25,1901, d January 23, 1962 - married Carrie Sue Farney.

Infant Son - died.

Willamae Bray, b December 3, 1904 - married Estene Clark. She taught school at North Prairie and Chilton.

Manley Gilcrist Bray, Jr., b June 19, 1909 - married on February 17, 1941 to Dora Mozelle Wooley.

Allen Bray, b June 11, 1911, d March 13, 1963- married Christine Barbor. A grandson, Woodson Lee Bray, Jr., lives in Chilton with his wife, Bobbie, and they are the parents of four children: Kimberley (Bray) Cowart, Timothy Clark Bray, Mark A. Bray, and Shannon Bray.

Thomas Allen Bray lives in Rosebud, Falls County, Texas, with his wife, Lou, and daughter, Tracy Bray.

Manley Gilcrist and Willamae (Bryant) Bray are both buried in the Chilton Cemetery at Chilton, Texas.

Some biographies from "Families of Falls County", compiled and edited by the Falls County Historical Commission.
Permission granted to Theresa Carhart by the Falls County Historical Commission, for use on this page.