Gardner - Gray
Hyacinth Elizabeth Gray and Jonathan Clay Gardner pledged their promises July 30 at 2 p.m.
The Rev. James Rudolph Rowe, grandfather of the groom, officiated at the double-ring ceremony at Pleasant Grove Free Will Baptist Church assisted by the Rev. Harold Jones.
R. Clifford Gray Jr. of Pikeville and Rebecca L. Bratten of Edenton are parents of the bride. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond C. Gray of Pikeville and the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph B. Lancaster of Patetown.
Parents of the groom are Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Gardner of Pikeville. He is the grandson of Pauline Gardner, the late Grover Gardner, the Rev. James Rudolph and Hazel Rowe and the late Irma Jean Rowe of Pikeville.
Given in marriage by her parents and escorted by her father, the bride wore a formal two-piece gown of matte satin and Schiffli lace. The fitted bodice was embellished with pearls and sequins with a scoop neckline. The short cap sleeves were enhanced with beaded lace and cutouts. The Basque waist was encircled in beaded lace. The floor-length A-line skirt and chapel-length train were adorned with rows of beaded Schiffli lace.
For her headpiece, she chose a butterfly piece with a single layer of illusion with a soutoche trim that fell to the fingertips. She carried a garden bouquet of hyacinths, daisies, tulips, irises and ivy.
Jennifer Gray Johnson of Patetown, sister of the bride, was matron of honor. Bridesmaids were Stephanie Heckler Gray of Pikeville, sister-in-law of the bride, and Crystal Michelle Gardner of Pikeville, sister of the groom.
Kenneth Gardner was his son’s best man. Groomsmen were Ryan Clifford of Pikeville and Joseph Berry Gray of Goldsboro, brothers of the bride.
Jackie Flowers directed the wedding. Presiding at the register was Mindy Glover, friend of the couple. Bryan Johnson, nephew of the bride, distributed programs.
A program of wedding music was provided by Marsha Sauls, pianist, and Dianne Riley and the Rev. and Mrs. Barry Stallings, vocalists.
After a wedding trip to western North Carolina, the couple will reside in Pikeville.
The bride is a 1994 graduate of Charles B. Aycock High School, a 1998 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Asheville with a bachelor of arts degree in history and a graduate of East Carolina University with a degree in secondary history education. She served aboard the USS Harry S. Truman as an electronic warfare technician during Operation Iraqi Freedom. She is employed as a history teacher and assistant tennis coach with Rocky Mount/Nash County Public Schools.
The groom graduated from Charles B. Aycock High School in 1998 and Wayne Community College with associate’s degrees in science and art. He is employed as a firefighter with the city of Goldsboro.
Following the ceremony, a reception was held in the church fellowship hall.
On July 22, Lynne Herndon, Mary Gardner and Crystal Gardner held a pamper-the-bride shower at the Gardner home.
An outing to the Mudcats game was held July 22.
On July 16, Debbie Gray, Stepahnie Lane and Sarah Beth Harris held a bridesmaids’ luncheon at the Gray home.
Friends and family of the groom held a bridal shower June 12 at Pleasant Grove Church.
On June 4, Jennifer Gray Johnson held a bridal shower and luncheon at Walnut Creek Country Club.
The groom’s family held a rehearsal dinner at Pikeville First Baptist Church fellowship hall.
By News-Argus Staff
Published in Weddings on July 31, 2005 3:31 AM