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‘Closure’: Graveside service held for two children killed by adopted parents

LOUDON COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — A special graveside service was held on Sunday in Loudon County for two children who died while under the care of Michael and Shirley Gray. The Grays have since been sentenced to life without parole in Roane County which will be served before life sentences in Knox County.

It’s been almost a year since Michael and Shirley Gray were sentenced for the abuse and deaths of their adopted children. District Attorney General Russell Johnson saying having a service like this was an important piece to help everyone involved move on from the events that unfolded over the last several years.

“Closure, closure for the boys, closure for their new mother, their new family and friends,” Johnson said. “Closure for our office, the Knox County DA’s office and everyone that worked on the case. It was just a sweet, soft ceremony so to speak at the graveside.”

Two children were buried at the Loudon County Memorial Gardens Sunday after the children’s remains were found in a Roane County Barn and in a Knox County backyard in May 2022. Johnson said having this service was a true team effort and couldn’t have happened without the help of the community.

“I want to thank the McGill sisters as I call them, Renee, Rebecca and Amy from the McGill-Click Funeral Home down in Loudon,” Johnson explained. “They’ve been friends of mine for over 30 years, I immediately turned to them even though Loudon County really had nothing to do with this as far as it being in Roane County and Knox County. They were the ones I turned to and they didn’t hesitate. Without question they said, ‘yes, we will help with this.'”

Johnson taking to social media posting about the service saying Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Edwards spoke during the service about the courage the two surviving boys had when giving their victim impact statements during last years trial. Johnson describing the events of Sunday as solemn.

“When you heard the sirens from the procession, that was good,” Johnson added. “It was a solemn affair, like I said, Jonathan really spoke to the heart of the boys and the situation and being able to use their own words back to them to comfort them and put it all into perspective.”

Johnson told 6 News the two surviving children have new names and are living with a good family. He added one of the children recently got his driver’s license and has a job. Prior to Sunday’s service, Johnson had most recently seen the children in August 2023 as they were beginning to plan their brother and sisters funeral.

Both Michael and Shirley Gray are now in prison serving consecutive life terms, their son Michael Gray Jr. is serving one year in prison followed by seven years of supervised release.