Elizabeth Testa Gray, 84, of Columbia, South Carolina passed away May 18, 2024, her home in Columbia, South Carolina. She was born on February 8, 1940, on a farm outside of Canelones, Uruguay to the late Francisco and Corina (LaLinde) Testa.

Mrs. Elizabeth T. Gray, born Juanita Elizabeth Testa Lalinde came to the US as a guest of a Mornan family, where she looked after the children of the family.  She later attended Chatman College and married her first husband.  He joined the military and followed him to Panama and then to Fort Jackson.  They were later divorced.

Liz met her husband of forty-four years, Richard L. Gray, when he transferred to Fort Jackson as the Officers Club Manager.  A subsequent assignment took them to Washington, DC where Rick worked at the Pentagon.  His last assignment was to the Mobilization Directorate of the Military Personnel Command.  Rick is a retired Chief Warrant Officer Four.

When Rick retired, they moved to Montevideo, Uruguay.  He was ordered ack to active duty for the first Gulf War.  They lived briefly in Alexandria, VA.  Rick retired a second time from the military at Ft. Belvoir VA and the couple settled in Columbia, SC.

Rick says "She was the love of my life, and when it turned out we couldn't have children, she was both a wife and mother to me until her death.

Liz had a variety of jobs outside the home, but she will be best remembered as a fantastic chef who combined Italian, Spanish and American cooking.  Anyone who shared her meals left congratulating her culinary talent.  She will be sorely missed

She was preceded in death by four siblings

Memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice.