Rest in Peace, Mrs Gill Gray
We have heard with great sadness of the passing of Old Girl and Benefactor of the school, Gill Gray neé de Wet (Class of 1957). She passed away on 9 December at her home in Bermuda surrounded by family and at peace.
The modern Senior Science Laboratory, erected to mark the 125th Jubilee and named the Jubilee Lab, was made possible by a generous donation from Gill and the Allan Gray Charitable Trust, of which she is a founder. In 2017, Collegiate Girls’ High School officially opened its new state-of-the-art resource centre and this was also funded by Gill Gray.
Together, Allan and Gill Gray created a lasting legacy by donating a vast portion of their fortune to be used for philanthropic purposes. Philanthropy became an increasing focus, and in his final “chairman’s letter” for Orbis, in 2015, Alan wrote: “We consider this both the right thing to do and a small but necessary contribution towards a society full of hope for all humanity. The free enterprise system has done so much for so many, and it behoves the few whom it rewards particularly well to help those less fortunate.”
Their philanthropy work began in 1979 when the couple founded the Allan and Gill Gray Charitable Trust and, in 2006, he established the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation to fund bursaries and scholarships for Southern African scholars and students, mainly from under-resourced communities, with the specific purpose of developing entrepreneurial talent. Alan’s last years were spent setting up the Allan & Gill Gray Foundation, donating his family’s controlling stake in the Orbis and Allan Gray groups to the foundation. All dividends that the foundation receives are devoted entirely and exclusively to philanthropy.
The couple shied away from publicity and for the most part remained out of the spotlight.
Rob Downer of the Allan and Gill Gray Foundation wrote; “As you would expect, Gill’s well organized and meticulous planning has left no room for disruption to the Foundation’s mission, so it will keep running as usual. She was always grateful for everyone’s support and hard work to make the Foundation and the wider Firm the successes they have been.”
Trevor Manuel, Chair of Old Mutual, wrote; “She often, effacingly, referred to herself as “net ’n gewone plaasmeisie van die Oos Kaap”. Gill was meticulous in her thinking and in her deep commitment to use the family resources to provide for future generations of African leaders. As has been recorded, Allan was a force of nature and Gill was that thinker and supporter who appeared content to be in the shadows. Everybody who met Gill encountered her quiet resolve and power. Thankfully her name lives on as one important part of the Allan and Gill Gray Philanthropies. Gill leaves behind an extraordinary legacy in her family and in the Foundation and wider Firm that she and Allan founded and nurtured throughout their wonderful life partnership.”
Our condolences to her three children Trevor, Jenny and Will together with their spouses Carrie, Buddy and Ali, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
