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A Heavyhearted Epitaph for Joseph Gray (Tombstone Tuesday)

While the sentiment intended could be quite benign, I couldn't help but feel sad when I read the tombstone placed for Mr. Joseph F. Gray at Taylors Chapel Cemetery:

Joseph F. Gray
Nov 23, 1870
June 15, 1942

A Man That Gave So Much
And Received So Little

Taylors Chapel Cemetery
Black Rock Mountain
Rabun County, Georgia

Photo © 2012 S. Lincecum

I found Mr. Gray's obituary, but was unable to glean anything specific to warrant the words on his stone.

Augusta Chronicle (Georgia)
16 June 1942, Section A, Page 10
(Viewed online at GenealogyBank.)
Joseph F. Gray
Dies at Clayton


Funeral services for Joseph F. Gray, brother of the late Thomas S. Gray of Augusta, will be conducted at his home in Clayton, Ga., today, and interment will follow in the Clayton cemetery.

Mr. Gray died at 6:30 yesterday morning, following an extended illness.

A native of Atlanta, he was reared in Augusta, where he found his first employment on the Augusta Chronicle, then under the editorship of Patrick Walsh.

For many years Mr. Gray was freight claim agent for the Central of Georgia railroad, and later he was elected to the Georgia Public Service commission.

He is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Mildred Gray Walls, Washington, D.C.; two nieces, Mrs. Eugene Gilbert and Miss Anna Gray, of Augusta, and one nephew, Thomas S. Gray Jr., of Washington, D.C.

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The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"

So I answered, "O Lord God, You know."

Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!' Thus says the Lord God to these bones: 'Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live...'" (Ezekiel 37:1-5, NKJV)