William Marshall Graham

William Marshall Graham, age 77, woke up in Heaven on the morning of August 9th, 2025 where there was a joyful reunion with his parents Arlon and Willie J Graham, his sister Mary Kathryn Toth, and his daughter Shannon Dayle Graham.

Those left behind to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of 52 years Melanie Lawson Graham, his children Michele (Mitch) Amisano and Brett (Joanna) Graham, and his six grandchildren Chloe Graham, Caleb Booker, Shannon Booker, Joseph Graham, Ava Booker and Toby Graham. He is also survived by his nephew Bill (April) Reed and their children Riley, Mia, Molly, and Aiden, and his niece Monica (Brian) Albers and their children Brayden and Kaiser, and too many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends to possibly name.

He was a graduate of Mortimer Jordan High School, class of ‘66, where he was the first chair trombone in the marching band and show band. He then actively served in the United States Air Force for 24 years, including four years spent living overseas in Germany, retiring at the rank of Major. He then served his nation further as a military contractor for the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky for 15 years and even accompanied them to Iraq for a year in 2005.

He was a faithful lifelong servant to the Lord and lent his many talents, and sweet tenor voice, to many churches and all the choirs he could find throughout his travels. He volunteered to lead the music at the evening worship service for the troops serving in Iraq. He was most recently a member of the Methodist family at Gracepoint Methodist Church at Mt Olive, where his stories, service, and hugs are sorely missed.

His favorite pastime was spending all his time with Melanie, especially on a cruise ship. During their 30 years of cruising they visited Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, all the islands of the Caribbean, several trips through the Panama canal, and a once in a lifetime 56 day round-trip cruise to Europe with Atlantic crossings both ways.

Visitation will be at the Ridout’s Gardendale Chapel on Monday August 18th, 2025 from 5pm – 8pm. There will be a celebration of his life at Gracepoint at Mt Olive on Tuesday August 19th at 10am, followed with burial at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, AL including full military honors at 1:15pm.

All pallbearers will be children and grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. Graham.

In lieu of flowers the family requests you please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association or St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.