A car accident claimed the life of 36-year-old Mitchel Gray, who had just graduated from the University of Alabama in August with a degree in Human Environmental Sciences. Gray was a husband, a father of two and an employee at Capstone Village.

Sally Moore, the director of Human Resources and Administrative Services at Capstone Village, said Gray was a joy to be around.

“Everybody just loved Mitchel,” Moore said. “He always had a smile on his face and he took pride in everything that he did; he was a very upstanding man.”

Gray had been an employee at Capstone Village since 2009. He was a resident driver and took the residents to medical appointments, the grocery store and even football games.

Co-worker and friend Freda Paulk said Gray’s fashion sense stood out to her.

“Mitchel was a dresser,” Paulk said. “He dressed very neat and smelled very good. He liked his Gucci and his cologne.”

Paulk also said that Gray had an exceptional personality and work ethic.

“I liked his character,” Paulk said. “He was very likeable and willing to help. He went over and beyond the call of duty.”

Carol Church, Gray’s co-worker and friend, said everyone at Capstone Village knew who Gray was.

“He was energetic and uplifting and so personable to everybody,” Church said. “What stood out [about Gray] for me was how well he related to the staff as well as the residents here. It is going to be so different around here without him.”

Renee Katsinas, Gray’s supervisor, set up an account at Alabama Credit Union to aid Gray’s family with funeral expenses. She said she did not mind helping because Gray was a fantastic person.

The name of the account is the ACU Mitchel Gray Funeral Fund. For more information about Gray’s funeral fund contact Capstone Village.