Lady Tamera Denise Whiteside McCray was born April 11, 1958, to Albert and Virginia Louise Whiteside of Spindale, North Carolina. "Tammy" as she was 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.

Tamera, known by her students as Ms. Whiteside, was employed by the Hillsborough County Schools in Tampa, Florida for 31 years as a High School English Teacher and 10 years as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Tampa in English Literature. Lady Tamera received the Ida B. Baker Teacher of the Year Award for her mentoring initiative of high school girls of Hillsborough County Florida. Tamera was also the Principal of the Arthur Jones Math and Science Academy in Tampa on the campus of the Bible Base Fellowship Church, where there she met and married Bishop Oliver Thomas McCray Jr. who was then the Executive Pastor to Dr. Arthur Jones Sr. and Founder/Director of the Florida Mass Choir.

Tamera and Bishop 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, 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 Roberts, Greg Roberts father to Ella Roberts and one son Camdyn Wilkerson of Tampa, Florida and stepdaughters Lauren McCray Kelly of Winston-Salem, N.C., Jordan McCray Joyner and Marvis Golden of Dayton, Ohio 4 grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.

Lady Tamera was a faithful member of the Greater Bethel Baptist Church and Bible Base 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 Auxiliary. God has spoken, heaven is rejoicing, and the angels are singing. "Who can find a virtuous wife, for her price is far above rubies." Proverbs 31:10.

A celebration of life for Lady Tamera Denise Whiteside McCray will be held at 5:30 P.M. on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at Morris Chapel Baptist Church 530 Baptist Avenue, Greenwood, South Carolina with words of inspirations by Bishop Oliver T. McCray, Jr., and Reverend Chris Martin, Presiding. Assisting will be Bishop Tony Thompson, Bishop Dr. George Jackson, Dr. Elvin Sadler Dean and Bishop Keith Martin.

The family is at the home, Shadowood Lane.

Parks Funeral Home is assisting the McCray Family.