Tamera Denise Whiteside McCray's Obituary
Lady Tamera Denise Whiteside McCray was born April 11, 1958, to Albert and Virginia Louise Whiteside of Spindale, North Carolina. “Tammy” as she was affectionately known by family and friends was a graduate of R.S. Central High School, received her B.A. in English from North Carolina Central
University in 1980 and then received her M.E. in Education from the National-Louis University at Evanston, Illinois in June of 2000.
Ms. Whiteside (later known as Mrs. McCray ) was employed by the Hillsborough County School District in Tampa, Florida for 31 years as a High School
English Teacher and 10 years as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Tampa.
Lady Tamera received the Ida B. Baker Teacher of the Year Award for her mentoring initiative of high school girls in Hillsborough County Florida. Tamera was also the Principal of the Arthur T. Jones Math and Science Academy in Tampa on the campus of Bible Based Fellowship Church, where she met and married Bishop Oliver Thomas McCray Jr.
Tamera and Bishop Oliver Thomas McCray Jr. were called to the Morris Chapel Baptist Church of Greenwood, S.C. in December of 2013. Tamera’s siblings: Gail Ragsdale, Shelia Bradley of Tampa Florida, Albert (Todd) Whiteside, Dr. LaRhonda Whiteside (wife) of Spindale, N.C., the late Herbert Monray Whiteside of N.Y.N.Y., Debra K. Lee-Whiteside of Somerset, New Jersey (widow) and the late Randy
Whiteside of Spindale, N.C.
Tamera was blessed with one daughter, Ella K. Roberts ( Cosey Coleman, fiancé) Greg Roberts (father to Ella K. Roberts) and
one grandson Camdyn Wilkerson of Tampa, FL.
She was also a loving Aunt, Stepmother, Friend, and Mentor.
Lady Tamera was a faithful member of the Greater Bethel Baptist Church and Bible Based Fellowship of Tampa, Florida and served with her husband Bishop Oliver T. McCray Jr. at the Morris Chapel Baptist Church for almost 12 years.
Lady Tamera served with the Women’s Auxiliary, Deaconess Ministry, Pastor Aide https://Auxiliary.God has spoken, heaven is rejoicing, and the angels are singing.
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