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In 1957, Grey was asked to nominate for the Southern Baptist Convention presidency Brooks Hays, a [[liberal]] U.S. representative from [[Little Rock]], [[Arkansas]], who subsequently lost a [[Democratic Party]] gubernatorial primary election in 1966. At the time Hays was the chairman of the Christian Life Commission, a liberal group advocating peaceful relations among the races within the Christian community. Grey declined to make the nomination on the grounds that he should not use his influence as a two-term past president of the convention to promote a particular candidate. Nevertheless, Hays was elected as the convention president for a single term that year.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=9yHdwD5LbEUC&pg=PA115&lpg=PA115&dq=Brooks+Hays+and+J.+D.+Grey&source=bl&ots=sIVBqhmuUD&sig=ckk7FlYDLOXolGYLD0pZpW5k888&hl=en&sa=X&ei=8Tz6T8DmNeWC2wXgqrz_Bg&ved=0CEAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Brooks%20Hays%20and%20J.%20D.%20Grey&f=false|title=James Thomas Baker, Brooks Hays, pp. 114-115|publisher=[[Macon, Georgia]]: Mercer University Press, 1989)|accessdate=July 9, 2012}}</ref>  

In 1957, Grey was asked to nominate for the Southern Baptist Convention presidency Brooks Hays, a [[liberal]] U.S. representative from [[Little Rock]], [[Arkansas]], who subsequently lost a [[Democratic Party]] gubernatorial primary election in 1966. At the time Hays was the chairman of the Christian Life Commission, a liberal group advocating peaceful relations among the races within the Christian community. Grey declined to make the nomination on the grounds that he should not use his influence as a two-term past president of the convention to promote a particular candidate. Nevertheless, Hays was elected as the convention president for a single term that year.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=9yHdwD5LbEUC&pg=PA115&lpg=PA115&dq=Brooks+Hays+and+J.+D.+Grey&source=bl&ots=sIVBqhmuUD&sig=ckk7FlYDLOXolGYLD0pZpW5k888&hl=en&sa=X&ei=8Tz6T8DmNeWC2wXgqrz_Bg&ved=0CEAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Brooks%20Hays%20and%20J.%20D.%20Grey&f=false|title=James Thomas Baker, Brooks Hays, pp. 114-115|publisher=Macon, [[Georgia]]: Mercer University Press, 1989)|accessdate=July 9, 2012}}</ref>  

Among the politicians who admired Grey was the colorful and controversial Louisiana Governor Earl Kemp Long, who retorted, "Everybody's bragging about this Billy Graham. Hell! He can't preach nothing [sic] like J. D. Grey. I had rather hear him preach  than any [other] man I've ever heard."<ref>Cole and Lee, ''Saint J. D.'', p. 127</ref>

Among the politicians who admired Grey was the colorful and controversial Louisiana Governor Earl Kemp Long, who retorted, "Everybody's bragging about this Billy Graham. Hell! He can't preach nothing [sic] like J. D. Grey. I had rather hear him preach  than any [other] man I've ever heard."<ref>Cole and Lee, ''Saint J. D.'', p. 127</ref>

   

   

<blockquote>

<blockquote>

You made us a marvelous mayor. I moved to New Orleans in 1937 and know what the city was before you took office [in 1946]. You gave New Orleans its start toward the great, progressive, industrial world city we have today. I saw you restore City Hall to a place of dignity, integrity, and respect. You gave your active support to every worthy move to improve the civic, business, social, cultural, and spiritual life of an entire community.<ref>''Minden Herald'', January 2, 1964, p. 6</ref>

You made us a marvelous mayor. I moved to New Orleans in 1937 and know what the city was before you took office [in 1946]. You gave New Orleans its start toward the great, progressive, industrial world city we have today. I saw you restore City Hall to a place of dignity, integrity, and respect. You gave your active support to every worthy move to improve the civic, business, social, cultural, and spiritual life of an entire community.<ref>''Minden Herald'', January 2, 1964, p. 6</ref></blockquote>

   

   

Grey's biographers note that "on occasion, J. D. raked his friend [Morrison] over the coals in matter political and controversial. His influence was effective on many issues. By the same token, the mayor could respond to J. D. as a friend when he offered ... the keys to the city to a young Billy Graham in his first crusade..." in New Orleans.<ref>Cole and Lee, ''St. J. D.'', p. 127</ref>

Grey's biographers note that "on occasion, J. D. raked his friend [Morrison] over the coals in matter political and controversial. His influence was effective on many issues. By the same token, the mayor could respond to J. D. as a friend when he offered ... the keys to the city to a young Billy Graham in his first crusade..." in New Orleans.<ref>Cole and Lee, ''St. J. D.'', p. 127</ref>

Grey and his wife, the former Lillian Tooke, whom he married in 1927, had twin daughters born in 1941, Martha Ann Cantrell and her husband, Richard, and Mary Beth Burg and husband, Jules L. Burg, Jr. (1923-2011).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Jules-Burg&lc=7863&pid=153502123&mid=4803597|title=Jules L. Burg, Jr., September 2, 2011|publisher=obits.dignitymemorial.com|accessdate=July 3, 2012}}</ref>lolokmkg There are three Grey grandchildren, Bryant Curtis Cantrell, Patrick Grey Cantrell, and Joe David Burg.<ref name=bio/>

Grey and his wife, the former Lillian Tooke, whom he married in 1927, had twin daughters born in 1941, Martha Ann Cantrell and her husband, Richard, and Mary Beth Burg and husband, Jules L. Burg, Jr. (1923-2011).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Jules-Burg&lc=7863&pid=153502123&mid=4803597|title=Jules L. Burg, Jr., September 2, 2011|publisher=obits.dignitymemorial.com|accessdate=July 3, 2012}}</ref>lolokmkg There are three Grey grandchildren, Bryant Curtis Cantrell, Patrick Grey Cantrell, and Joe David Burg.<ref name=bio/>

Grey died at the age of seventy-eight of a lengthy illness in Baptist Hospital in New Orleans.<ref name=obit/> He is interred in Metairie in Jefferson Parish, across the Mississippi River from New Orleans.<ref name=jdg/><ref>It is unknown which cemetery in Metairie contains the remains of pastor Grey.</ref>

Grey died at the age of seventy-eight of a lengthy illness in Baptist Hospital in New Orleans.<ref name=obit/> He is interred in Metairie in Jefferson Parish, across the [[Mississippi River]] from New Orleans.<ref name=jdg/><ref>The cemetery in Metairie where Grey is interred is unidentified.</ref>

The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary honors Grey with its J. D. Grey Chair of Preaching and its annual J. D. Grey Preaching Award. In 2011, the recipient of both designations was Dennis Phelps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nobts.edu/publications/News/PhelpsAward10.html|title=Phelps receives annual J. D. Grey Preaching Award|publisher=nobts.edu|accessdate=July 4, 2012}}</ref>

The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary honors Grey with its J. D. Grey Chair of Preaching and its annual J. D. Grey Preaching Award. In 2011, the recipient of both designations was Dennis Phelps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nobts.edu/publications/News/PhelpsAward10.html|title=Phelps receives annual J. D. Grey Preaching Award|publisher=nobts.edu|accessdate=July 4, 2012}}</ref>