On Saturday, October 31, 2020 at 10:08 a.m. there was a knock on Heaven's door. Jesus answered and said , "my good and faithful servant, your work is done, come on in." That good and faithful servant was Saundra Patrice Gray McNeely. Saundra, affectionately known as Sandy, San and Santibaby was born on November 24, 1953 in Kansas City, Kansas to the union of Porter Sterling Gray, Sr. and Rosie Lee Rabun Gray. She was the fourth child born to this union, thus the name, Santibaby. Her parents, step-father, Willie R. Rainey, eldest brother, Porter S. Gray, Jr. and her only child, MaKenna P. McNeely have already taken their heavenly journey and will be waiting for her with open arms. She was united in holy matrimony to Joseph C. McNeely II and to this union one child was born, MaKenna P. McNeely. Saundra accepted Christ and was baptized at the age of eight at the First Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Pastor Dr. E. A. Freeman. At the age of fifteen, she joined the Memorial Missiionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. T. B. Baker and currently under Apostle Larry B. Aiken and Pastor Olivia C. Q. Aiken. There, she remained a member until her death. She was a member of the Women's Missionary Union and assisted in the kitchen preparing meals for church functions and bereaved families. She was educated in the Kansas City, Missouri school district and graduated from Southeast High School in 1973. From there, she attended Commerce School of Banking and became a supervisor over the tellers and an assistant to the branch manager at Community Federal Savings and Loan. Prior to the attack of Lupus and Scleroderma on her body, Saundra lived a very vibrant young life. She attended Wendy Ward Charm School and Zella Mae Moten Dance School which prepared her into becoming a Kansas City Chiefette which was a dancing and entertainment group providing pre-game and half-time entertainment at the Chiefs home games. She was also one of the only two black ypung women to work at Chasnoff's, a high end women's clothing store. It was there where she acquired a taste for fashion. You never saw her when she was not draped in jewelry and dressed to the hilt. This lead to modeling opportunities at Chasnoff's and other fashion shows. Opprtunity knocked again when she and Joe gave birth to MaKenna. Saundra doted on her baby girl being dressed fine as wine. MaKenna went on vacations with her parents and other family members on many occassions, because Saundra said, MaKenna wanted to go and whatever Makenna wanted , MaKenna got. Then along came granddaughter, Taylor Marie Kristine' Thomas. The three of them were inseperable, they loved going to the movies, eating out and visiting family. She loved cooking for her girls so much, that the girls started spreading the word about her pound cakes, chicken salad and cheesecakes. From there, other family members offered to pay Saundra to make those specialty items. MaKenna, Taylor whom was affectionately known as Pumpkin Baby and Saundra truly was living their best life. Saundra leaves to mourn her passing, her siblings; Stephen Gray, Rosalind Gray-Fortson (C. D. Jr.), Reginald Gray (Brenda), Keith Rainey Sr., Kevin Rainey (Cicely), and Charone Gray-Edwards; step-sister, Vanessa Duckworth; step-mother, Ernestine Gray; granddaughter, Taylor "Pumpkin Baby"; sister/cousin, Phyllis Figures; prayer partner, Mother Osler, a host of other loving family members and friends. In order to keep everyone safe, this will be a drive-up outdoor service with the proper Covid 19 precautions in place.

Funeral services Saturday, November 7, at 11:00am at the Memorial Church International. Interment Forest Hill Cemetery. Visitation 10:00am-11:00am at the church. Services conducted by Duane E. Harvey Funeral Directors. Condolences may be shared on our website.