John D. Graham, Sr.

The funeral mass for John D. Graham, 90, will be held at 11:00 AM Monday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Jackson, with Father David Graham and Monsignor Albert Kirk officiating. Burial will follow immediately at Calvary Cemetery in Jackson. Visitation will be Sunday afternoon from 4:00-7:00 with a prayer vigil and rosary to follow at Smith’s Funeral Home, North Chapel in Jackson.

Mr. Graham, whose engaging personality and sense of humor were well known throughout the city of Jackson, Tennessee and beyond, died Thursday night at the Jackson Madison County General Hospital.

Born in Birmingham, AL, he moved to Jackson from Iuka, MS with his family when his father became a distributor for Tom’s Snack Foods in 1937. He served in the Navy in World War II. Afterwards, he attended LSU on the GI Bill. He was married to Mary Faye Winstead Graham for nearly 60 years. Mr. Graham was a devoted member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

A true civic servant, he served as a Magistrate on the Madison Country Court, Madison County Commissioner, Jackson City Council, Chairman of the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Commission, Co-Chairman of the Jackson Madison County School Consolidation Committee, Chairman of the Jackson Madison County General Hospital Board of Trustees. He was recently recognized with the Madison County Republican Party Reagan Lifetime Achievement Award.

Well known for his passion for sports, Mr. Graham volunteered as a youth basketball and baseball coach, taking a team to the Babe Ruth World Series in 1954. In 1996, he received the Jackson Madison County Sports Hall of Fame Distinguished Service Award. Mr. Graham, aka “Bird Legs Graham,” was a member of the “Big Jak Quarterback Club” radio show in the 70’s and 80’s, where several local personalities talked football and made predictions on upcoming college and high school games. An avid bass fisherman, he was a charter member of the Jackson Bass Club. One of his proudest accomplishments was working tirelessly over a ten year period for the development of Lake Madison, which was ultimately designated Lake Graham in his honor.

Mr. Graham is survived by his beloved wife Faye, his five children Fr. David Graham, Chris Graham (Ann), Levian Brink (Dennis), Greg Graham, Linda Spain (Billy), and 12 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by parents Dave and Roberta, and brother Billy

The family would like to especially thank Dr. Eddy Koonce for his personal care and attention over the past year.

The pallbearers to serve will be Edward Martindale, Michael Martindale, Tom McCarter Jr., Kevin McCarter, Don Lafont, and Ted Nelson.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be sent in memory of John D. Graham to St. Mary’s Catholic School, 1665 Highway 45 ByPass, Jackson, TN 38305.