Dr. Gray Tillman Malcom passed away peacefully on November 21, 2017 at The Poydras Home in New Orleans. She was born on September 18, 1933 at her family home, The Crossroads, in Bostwick, Georgia. She was the daughter of Drew Wilson Malcom and Rubye Preston Malcom. After her mother’s early death her father married Myrtle Bearden Malcom and together they raised five remarkable daughters adding one more younger sister. She graduated from Morgan County High School in Madison, Georgia. She received her BA degree from the Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville in 1954. While attending college there she befriended the writer Flannery O’Connor. She came to her beloved New Orleans where she studied at Charity Hospital of Louisiana at the School of Medical Technology receiving her degree in 1956, MT (ASCP). She continued her education at Northwestern University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois where she worked with and befriended Dr. Loyal Davis, father-in-law of future President Reagan. She then returned to the University of New Orleans (formerly LSU) where she received her MA in 1971. She then received her PhD in May 1978 at Louisiana State University Medical Center. She was a professor in the department of pathology at the LSU School of Medicine at the LSU Medical Center. Here she did incredible research in her field and trained many doctors, nurses and lab technicians for years. She worked side-by-side with her dear friend and mentor Dr. Jack Strong. She was a member of the faculty of Graduate Studies and the head of the Department of Medical Technology. She was a Professor Emeritus and worked tirelessly after Hurricane Katrina to help the medical center regain its prominence. Her research was world renowned. She lectured all over the world in her specialty including Cambridge University in England and was interviewed by the BBC and on the Today Show in New York. Her awards are a testament to her brilliant career. She was invited by the Chinese and Russian government’s to lecture in both of those countries. She was invited to set up laboratories in Guatemala where she lived for six months in order to train those technicians. She also did research on heart disease in Alaska studying the Eskimos. She was a great believer in education and loved all young people. She was an incredible influence on many people helping them find their way through her field. She set high expectations for herself and expected the same of others. She loved her adopted city of New Orleans for its culture, delicious foods, art, friendly people, beauty and jazz. She was a personal friend of Antoine “Fats” Domino. She was a member of the following carnival organizations: The Krewes of Venus, Iris, and Perseus and loved Mardi Gras. She traveled the world and visited most major countries. She loved people from all walks of life and believed in fairness for all. She is survived by her nephew who she loved her like a son Harold L. Williamson Jr. (Hal), Dr. R. Dale LeBlanc Jr. of New Orleans, and her dear sister Agnes Estelle Malcom Elliott of Atlanta Georgia. She loved all of her family and friends. She is also survived by her brothers-in-law Harold L. Williamson Sr. of Athens, Georgia and William Jerry Thomas Sr. of Bishop, Georgia. She is also survived by many dear nieces and nephews: John Drew Lupo and Susan Palmer of Bostwick, Georgia, William Jerry Thomas and Paula of Bishop, Georgia, Jana Lupo Beckstine and Jeff of Eatonton, Georgia, Sara Thomas Shepherd and Alan of Rutledge, Georgia, Dr. Thomas William Elliott Jr .and Kelly of Atlanta, Georgia, and Drew Wilson Malcom Elliott and Kathy of Lawrenceville, Georgia. She is also survived by many great nieces and nephews, many cousins and their children all so dearly loved. She had three wonderful Godchildren including Sarah Schlesinger Rathe of Covington, Louisiana. Everyone who knew her benefited from her deep loyalty, generosity and worldly knowledge. She will be greatly missed by all. She is preceded in death by her beloved father Drew Wilson Malcom and mother Rubye Preston Malcom of Bostwick, Georgia. Her loving stepmother Myrtle Bearden Malcom of Bostwick, Georgia and her longtime companion and friend Patricia Maxine Sallas of New Orleans. Her sister Drue Jeanne Malcom Lupo of Bostwick, Georgia, her sister June Malcom Williamson of Athens, Georgia, her sister Joyce Louette Malcom of Bostwick, Georgia, her sister Sara Joanne Thomas of Bishop, Georgia, her brothers-in-law John Roland Lupo of Bostwick, Georgia and Thomas William Elliott Sr. of Atlanta, Georgia
A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at Jacob Schoen & Son Funeral Home located at 3827 Canal Street in New Orleans, Louisiana on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 with a visitation for family and friends commencing at 9:00 AM, with a mass to follow in the Gerard Schoen Chapel there at 11:00 AM. There will be a jazz brunch in celebration. Her Georgia family and friends will gather for a graveside service at the family cemetery in Bostwick, Georgia located on the corner of Bostwick Road and Wellington Street on December 2, 2017 at 11:00 AM with a reception to follow in the Fellowship Hall of The Bostwick United Methodist Church. The service will be officiated by her nephew Dr. Thomas William Elliott Jr. Arrangements will be made with A. E.Carter Funeral Home of Madison, Georgia. The family wishes to give a very special thanks to all of the kind people who cared for her including, her dear friend and caregiver Rachelle Washington of New Orleans, Louisiana, the nurses and staff of the Poydras Home in New Orleans and the Notre Dame Hospice of New Orleans. In lieu of flowers the family prefers donations to the following in her memory: The Poydras Home , 5354 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA. 70115. The Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans, 923 Tchapitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130 or The Bostwick United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 257, Bostwick, Georgia 30623. To sign and view the Family Guestbook, please visit www.schoenfh.com

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