TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
Andre R. Gray 1963-2022 Educator, Coach, Law Of cer, U.S. Army
Cleveland L. Gipson, Jr. 1969-2022 International Educator and Athletic Hall of Fame
an Educational Program Coordinator for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) in Washing- ton, D.C. After that, he worked as a legislative aide in the U.S. Senate before becoming an educator in Washington, D.C., public schools. Gipson had a love of education and a passion for helping others excel. He was a constant motivator to his students, family, and friends. He twice earned teacher of the year honors and served as coach of the Stanton Elementary chess team, leading them to win three champi- onship titles. After working in the D.C. public schools, he took on the challenge of teaching abroad. His international teaching experience began at Westhill Academy in Mexico City, Mexico, where he taught sixth grade and later served as principal for three years. He worked as an Educational Con- sultant for McGraw Hill and a teacher trainer for Glencoe. He later worked as a Government and World History teacher for the American School Foun- dation in Mexico City, Mexico, where he resided for the remainder of his life. He was fluent in Spanish and worked as a translator and volunteer with the Special Olympics in Mexico. Brother Cleveland L. Gipson, Jr., is preceded in death by his father, Cleve- land L. Gipson, Sr., his brother Brooks Gipson, and his sister, Marla Gipson Demons. Forever cherishing his memory is his loving mother, Fannie Gipson; devoted sister Sonja Rahim; and a host of aunts, uncles, nephews, cousins, and beloved friends. Submitted by Anthony C. Lloyd, Sr.
Cleveland L. Gipson, Jr., (Gam- ma Epsilon 1991) a native of Port Arthur, TX joined the Chapter Invis- ible on Thursday, August 4, 2022, in Mexico City,
André R. Gray (Iota Alpha 1982) entered the Chapter In- visible on August 13, 2022, at 58. André Raphael Gray was born on August 14,
Mexico, after a short illness.
1963, to the late Edward Tasby (Zeta Upsilon 1972) and Barbara Gray in Houston, TX, the second oldest of four children. Gray was an all-state athlete in basketball, football, and track & field at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory in Houston. Gray played four years of collegiate football at the University of Texas-Arlington, earning a B.A. degree in business administration. After graduation, he tried out to make the NFL Washington Redskins and the CFL Saskatchewan Roughriders. Gray then served in the United States Army from 1986 to 1991. After his honorable discharge, Gray returned to his high school alma mater, where he coached multiple sports from 1992 to 2002. During this time, Gray also worked as a police officer for the Houston Police Department from 1997- 2011. From 2010-2015, he entered the insurance industry before moving into education in the Houston metropolitan area. Gray has taught elementary and middle school in Sheldon, Humble, and Galena Park In- dependent School Districts. He was teaching at Galena Park Middle School before his untimely passing. Gray was a member of the Houston (TX) Alumni Chapter. Brother Andre R. Gray is survived by his wife of five years, the former Simone Gomes, his children Deanté Gray and Trévon Gray, his mother, and siblings Quincy Gray, Tamika Tasby, and Tenyse Tasby.
In 1987, Gipson earned a four-year athletic scholarship at Tuskegee Univer- sity in Tuskegee. As an inside lineback- er for the Tuskegee Golden Tigers, he earned SIAC All-Conference First Team honors (1989-1991). Additionally, his teammates elected defensive captain for three consecutive years (1989-1991). In 1991, Gipson was selected as the SIAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and Preseason Division II All- American. The Golden Tigers football coaching staff twice voted him Defen- sive MVP. He earned the Coca-Cola Award in 1991 for achieving the highest GPA on the team. Black Entertain- ment Television (BET) selected Gipson as the Defensive MVP of the 1991 Tur- key Bowl, which BET broadcasted. In 2013, his alma mater inducted Gipson into the Tuskegee University Athletic Hall of Fame. Gipson not only achieved excellence in sports but also academically and professionally. He earned a B.S. degree in sociology with a minor in education in 1992. Gipson did graduate studies at Howard University from 1992-1993. He later earned a master of education degree from Endicott College in Beverly, MA and a second master’s degree in educational leadership from Cambridge College in Boston, MA. He began his professional career as a Congressional Staffer on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. He worked as
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