Gray Mills Cassidy

Gray Mills Cassidy, 19, passed away Sunday, August 18, 2024, in Oxford, MS. He was the son of Farra LaNese Sheridan of Oxford, MS, and James Pittman Cassidy, Jr., also of Oxford, MS.

The funeral will be Thursday, August 22, 2024, at 1:00 P.M. in the Chapel of Waller Funeral Home with Rev. Fish Robinson and Rev. Jody Schmelzer officiating. Visitation will be held Wednesday, August 21, 2024, from 3:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. in West Hall of Waller Funeral Home, and again on Thursday prior to the service beginning at 12:00 noon.

Gray was born on August 31, 2004, in Benton, AR. For the eight months that followed, he was the object of all of Farra’s love, attention, and care. His mother was immediately enamored by her first baby boy, cherishing every moment of time with him from the very beginning. Though many siblings would follow, he never lost his place as the first son, who was deeply loved and adored.

As the first grandchild and great-grandchild on his mother’s side, he quickly wrapped his grandparents around his finger. He was especially close with his grandfather, Steve, who he affectionally called Doo-Doo. Together they would go to dirt track races and estate sales, but Gray’s favorite activity was to tag along with him to Benton High School football games, where they would sit in the press box while Steve announced the game. He also enjoyed canoe trips with his Poppy, Morris Huddleston.

When he became an older brother, Gray appointed himself the guardian of his siblings, taking it upon himself to constantly tease, instigate, and aggravate them all, every opportunity he got. While this behavior would’ve gotten most in trouble, Gray paired his humor and wit with a charm that won over every heart. His parents could only smile and shake their heads, knowing that his constant joking and picking was a true sign of how much he loved you.

So many of his summers were spent on beach trips, making priceless memories with his family. He never grew out of his role as the first baby and his mom always made time for just the two of them, like their memorable trip to the World Series in 2013 to watch Game 6, where they watched Gray’s beloved Red Sox win the World Series. He spent countless days on the golf course with his brothers, Ford and Garner, who tolerated the constant smack talk and teasing that came along with any quality time with Gray. Garner caught the most teasing from Gray, and while he took it all in stride, he could still beat him in any game on the X-Box and he was the reigning champ of Memory, always winning when they played. Ford and Gray found their bonding time working on trucks together, and he and his sister, Everett, grew close during their one semester together at OHS. Farra always reminded the kids to protect their siblings and stick together no matter what.

Gray graduated early from Oxford High School, before continuing his education at Mississippi State University, where he majored in Agricultural Science. While at State, Gray was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, and while he loved his brotherhood, he still remained close with all of his friends at Sigma Chi.

In 2023, Gray returned home to begin his career in construction and work with and alongside his father, Jim, at Jim Cassidy Construction, LLC. As Gray’s passion for serving others through the construction business grew, he began his own business, Young Buck’s Handyman Services, LLC. His fast learned capabilities caught the attention of hundreds of clients and his side business grew exponentially almost overnight.

While Gray loved his work, he was most passionate about all things outdoors. The time he enjoyed most in life was that spent hunting with his family, friends, and his beloved lab, Tilly. Gray was an active member of the National Wild Turkey Federation and loved to turkey hunt as much as he loved being in a deer stand or duck blind. Gray also enjoyed spending time with his friends at Sandy Creek TV.

More than anything, Gray loved his Lord and Savior. He preferred spending time with God in the woods, where he always had his Bible. For seven summers, he attended the Brookhill Ranch Summer Camp in Hot Springs, AR, that helped to nurture his faith in God. He was deeply devoted to his family and friends, loving nothing more than spending time with his brothers and sisters. He adored and cared for his family and friends in a way that was unmatched.

A kind and loving friend to all, Gray never met a stranger or a person he wasn’t willing to help. He was known for his respectful and gentleman-like ways, leaving an impression anywhere he went. He embodied a knowledge and intelligence that boggled the minds of his family, able to diagnose cars with minimal information and was able to fix nearly anything. Gray was exceptional in all that he did, full of clever remarks and wisdom that far surpassed his age. He leaves behind an indelible mark on the lives of all who were fortunate enough to know him.

His family finds comfort knowing he was welcomed into Heaven with a big hug from Josh Seamon.

He was preceded in death by his great-grandfathers, Bill “Dirt” Landers and Paul Shoppach; and great-grandmother, Maxine McGehee; and grandfathers, James Pittman Cassidy, Sr. and Clifton Sheridan.

Gray is survived his mother, Farra Sheridan and step-father, Eric of Oxford, MS; his father, Jim Cassidy, Jr. and step-mother Holly, from Oxford, MS; sister, Everett Cassidy of Oxford, MS; brothers, Ford Cassidy and Garner Cassidy of Oxford, MS; step-sisters, Hope Sheridan of Fayetteville, AR, Katie Davis, and Carolyne Davis, all of Oxford, MS; his ‘unc’, Cayce Landers and his wife, Lindie, of Benton, AR, and their children, Lainie Jo, Carter, Cannon, and Cotton; grandparents, Renee Huddleston (Morris) of Benton, AR, Steve Landers of Benton, AR, Miriam Cassidy of Marks, MS, and Jan Sheridan of Benton, AR; and great-grandmother, Wilma Shoppach; his great aunt and uncle, Alan and Gina Cabe of Benton, AR, cousins, Mallory and Dakota Hill and their children, Harper, Hadlee, and Hollyn, and Lauren Leavell (Josh) and her children, Maddux and Jace; as well as many cherished aunts, uncles, great aunts, great uncles, and cousins on both sides of the family.

Serving as honorary pallbearers are some of Gray’s closest friends, Forrest Rowe, Gray Grantham, Wynn Grantham, Greer Hagerson, Aaron Birch, Hunt Edwards, Austen Haley, Aubrey Taylor, Sam Sciorntino, Ethan Easterling, Gage Atkinson, and Brian Gregory Rettig.

Expressions of sympathy or memorial contributions in Gray’s memory may be made to Reclaimed Project Kappa Sigma Mission Trip online at https://reclaimedproject.networkforgood.com/projects/208158-kappa-sigma-spring-break-mission-trip-2024, or to Catch-A-Dream Foundation, 2485 Ennis Road, Starkville, 39759, or online at https://www.catchadream.org/donate/ .