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Washington man has traveled difficult road
Says parents, mentors helped pave way
By CLAUD HODGES
Senior Reporter
Washington native Clifton Jarvis Gray III, 30, returned to Washington two years ago to serve the people as a trial lawyer.
“I’ve risen from the bottom to the top during all times during my life,” he said. “I thank God that His hands have been on me and have lifted me.”
Gray said he was raised in public housing in Washington.
“I grew up in the Ninth Street projects,” he said. “I had five sisters and two brothers and we all believed we could do what we wanted to do based on the teaching of our mother.”
Two of Gray’s sisters are teachers, one is a registered nurse and one is a social worker. One of his brothers is in college.
In addition to his immediate family members, his uncle, Bobby Roulhac, pastor at Holy Fellowship Church, encouraged him to clear a way out of the public housing community and move ahead with his life, Gray said.
“I just stayed clear of all the drugs and violence on Ninth Street,” he said. “Mostly because my mom was such a big inspiration to me and my dad was such a family man.”
Gray’s eighth grade science teacher, Melvin Boyd, was a mentor in his life that made Gray so much of what he is today, Gray said.
“He took me under his wing and taught me how to make something out of myself,” Gray said. “He means so much to me up to this day. He made me realize how important school is and where an education can take you.”
Boyd said he is proud to have taught Gray and to have become his friend.
“I’m proud of what he has made of himself,” Boyd said. “He didn’t have an easy road to grow up on.”
Boyd said Gray is an inspiring young man who has delivered many speeches to Washington’s youth and has shown them what they can do with their lives.
“I’m happy to see him where he is,” Boyd said.
With Boyd’s encouragement as one of the turning points in his life, Gray took some of his time in junior high school and memorized Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech.
He said he started reciting the speech at churches and youth organizations and that it was uplifting and inspiring for him as well as all those who heard him deliver it.
“This speech showed me that I could do something very difficult, and do it well,” Gray said.
It was then that he began to really move toward the future, he said.
“I felt good. I was moving. My life was ahead of me,” Gray said.
After graduating from Washington High School, he attended North Carolina Central University in Durham.
“Nancy Rowland, like Mr. Boyd and my uncle, took me under her wing at college,” Gray said.
He said Rowland inspired him to do much with his life.
After his sophomore year in college, he served as a White House intern in Washington, D.C., and was assigned to prepare Vice President Al Gore’s briefing book every day.
After earning a college degree from NCCU, he taught English for two years at Southeast Raleigh High School. He was the first male English teacher in any Raleigh high school.
After his work as a teacher, he returned to NCCU and earned a degree in law. After becoming a lawyer, he was hired as a federal government lawyer.
“It was a great job,” Gray said. “Good hours and good money. I was set.”
However, his life took another turn when he came home to Washington in October 2005.
“While I was here, I ran into the Rev. David Moore in Bojangle’s,” Gray said. “He convinced me to come back to Washington to practice law.”
In Moore, Gray said he had found another mentor. In March 2006 under the suggestion and encouragement of Moore, Gray and Watsi Sutton opened the first law firm in Washington led by a black partnership.
“I think Clifton is a model as to what can happen in America,” Moore said. “He came from a family that was disadvantaged and got his education.”
Moore said Gray worked himself out and took full advantage of the opportunities that have gotten him where he is today.
“Now, he has come back to his hometown and is helping the community,” Moore said. “We are blessed that he decided to come back home. Most youth come to visit, but they don’t stay.”
Moore said Gray has done the right thing.
“Clifton is one of the outstanding minds in Beaufort County,” Moore said.
Gray said he is proud to be back in Washington, but he will not stay here forever, he said.
“I will leave law one day to become a politician,” Gray said. “I want my legacy to be a great trial lawyer, but I want to be in politics.”
Gray said he could not tell how long he will remain a trial lawyer, but he will do the best he can and will work for his clients continually, a principle he said has always been his rule in life.
Then, after he leaves the law profession, he said he will enter politics, his dream.
“I love politics,” Gray said. “That’s where I want to be.”
By CLAUD HODGES
Senior Reporter
Washington native Clifton Jarvis Gray III, 30, returned to Washington two years ago to serve the people as a trial lawyer.
“I’ve risen from the bottom to the top during all times during my life,” he said. “I thank God that His hands have been on me and have lifted me.”
Gray said he was raised in public housing in Washington.
“I grew up in the Ninth Street projects,” he said. “I had five sisters and two brothers and we all believed we could do what we wanted to do based on the teaching of our mother.”
Two of Gray’s sisters are teachers, one is a registered nurse and one is a social worker. One of his brothers is in college.
In addition to his immediate family members, his uncle, Bobby Roulhac, pastor at Holy Fellowship Church, encouraged him to clear a way out of the public housing community and move ahead with his life, Gray said.
“I just stayed clear of all the drugs and violence on Ninth Street,” he said. “Mostly because my mom was such a big inspiration to me and my dad was such a family man.”
Gray’s eighth grade science teacher, Melvin Boyd, was a mentor in his life that made Gray so much of what he is today, Gray said.
“He took me under his wing and taught me how to make something out of myself,” Gray said. “He means so much to me up to this day. He made me realize how important school is and where an education can take you.”
Boyd said he is proud to have taught Gray and to have become his friend.
“I’m proud of what he has made of himself,” Boyd said. “He didn’t have an easy road to grow up on.”
Boyd said Gray is an inspiring young man who has delivered many speeches to Washington’s youth and has shown them what they can do with their lives.
“I’m happy to see him where he is,” Boyd said.
With Boyd’s encouragement as one of the turning points in his life, Gray took some of his time in junior high school and memorized Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech.
He said he started reciting the speech at churches and youth organizations and that it was uplifting and inspiring for him as well as all those who heard him deliver it.
“This speech showed me that I could do something very difficult, and do it well,” Gray said.
It was then that he began to really move toward the future, he said.
“I felt good. I was moving. My life was ahead of me,” Gray said.
After graduating from Washington High School, he attended North Carolina Central University in Durham.
“Nancy Rowland, like Mr. Boyd and my uncle, took me under her wing at college,” Gray said.
He said Rowland inspired him to do much with his life.
After his sophomore year in college, he served as a White House intern in Washington, D.C., and was assigned to prepare Vice President Al Gore’s briefing book every day.
After earning a college degree from NCCU, he taught English for two years at Southeast Raleigh High School. He was the first male English teacher in any Raleigh high school.
After his work as a teacher, he returned to NCCU and earned a degree in law. After becoming a lawyer, he was hired as a federal government lawyer.
“It was a great job,” Gray said. “Good hours and good money. I was set.”
However, his life took another turn when he came home to Washington in October 2005.
“While I was here, I ran into the Rev. David Moore in Bojangle’s,” Gray said. “He convinced me to come back to Washington to practice law.”
In Moore, Gray said he had found another mentor. In March 2006 under the suggestion and encouragement of Moore, Gray and Watsi Sutton opened the first law firm in Washington led by a black partnership.
“I think Clifton is a model as to what can happen in America,” Moore said. “He came from a family that was disadvantaged and got his education.”
Moore said Gray worked himself out and took full advantage of the opportunities that have gotten him where he is today.
“Now, he has come back to his hometown and is helping the community,” Moore said. “We are blessed that he decided to come back home. Most youth come to visit, but they don’t stay.”
Moore said Gray has done the right thing.
“Clifton is one of the outstanding minds in Beaufort County,” Moore said.
Gray said he is proud to be back in Washington, but he will not stay here forever, he said.
“I will leave law one day to become a politician,” Gray said. “I want my legacy to be a great trial lawyer, but I want to be in politics.”
Gray said he could not tell how long he will remain a trial lawyer, but he will do the best he can and will work for his clients continually, a principle he said has always been his rule in life.
Then, after he leaves the law profession, he said he will enter politics, his dream.
“I love politics,” Gray said. “That’s where I want to be.”
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