Bertha Mae Davis Howard- Bray was a hairdresser and lifelong educator born in Montgomery, Alabama to Isiah and Pearlie Rogeres Davis on July 25, 1925. She graduated from Besteda's Beauty School in Miobile, Alabama, then earned a BS degree in Cosmetology fRom Southern Beauty Congress and another BS from the University of Georgia in Education.

On March 12, 1947 she was married to Prince ALbert Howard, Jr. until his death in on March 12, 1962 and had eight children with him: Barkley Howard, Princella Howard Dixon, Barbara Howard, Col. Rubye Braye, Wilhemina Howard Harris, Wanda Howard Battle, Levetia Howard, and Felise Howard Haley.

In 1968 Howard-Bray moved from Montgomery to Atlanta in 1968 and worked as an instructor at Atlanta Area Technical School for 25 years, as a commentator for the Annual Bronner Brothers Beauty Trade Show, and served in the Atlanta chapter of the National Council of Negro Women, the Georgia Association of Educators, and Shaw Temple AMEZ Church. In addition to teaching, Howard Bray supported her family with direct sales programs: Mary kay, Symbra Ette, and World Book Encyclopedia.

Howard-Bray married Clyde Bray in 1995 and died October 12, 2004.