Imessage reports message delivered but recipient receives nothing

IPhone 5S and IPhone 6 with IOS 9.02, receiving IPhone 5S with IOS 8.0.4

Problem: After upgrading to IOS 9.0.2, IMessages sent from the IPhones with IOS 9.0.2 report the message has been 'Delivered'. The recipient IPhone receives nothing. If the recipient IPhone attempts to send IMessages to either of the IOS 9 IPhones the attempt fails. However, if all IPhones shut off IMessage 'Text" messages can be sent and received.

Also, Under Settings > Messages > Send & Receive > 'You can be reached by IMessage at' shows a checked cell phone number and email address but the phone number is gray and the email address is black. Why is the phone number gray? Under 'Start a new conversation', the same cell phone number is checked and black while the email address is black but not checked.

Help would be appreciated