Roger was born on Valentine’s Day 1949 in Alamance County, NC to Johnnie O’Dean and Carrie Belle Graves, where he lived until being drafted in 1969 into the U.S. Army to serve in Vietnam; he went on to serve in Korea, twice in Germany, Italy, and twice at Fort Bragg, NC, making lifelong friends along the way. In Italy, he had the honor of being asked to assist in standing up a brand new Chinook unit. Roger served proudly, attaining the rank of First Sergeant, retiring in 1992 at Fort Bragg, NC. He went on to work for Lockheed-Martin until 2002 when he moved to Virginia Beach. Roger then got his job of a lifetime as a Golf Course Marshall at Honeybee, and later at Battlefield Golf Club, where he acquired a whole new love of the game and a new family. When Roger passed away, he was officially what he always wanted to be… a Golf bum.
Roger loved his family, his friends, his dog Prince, and his church. He never gave a little of himself, he always gave one hundred percent of himself to anyone and everyone, helping wherever he could; he will be missed by so many.
Roger was predeceased by his parents, Johnnie and Carrie Graves, along with a brother, Clyde “Skip” Graves.
He is survived by his loving wife of 34 years, Lisa; daughters, Keisha Herbert, Kawanika Brown (Marvin), LaToya Graves, and Sparkle Collins, and a son, Jason Jordan (Quanella); along with (7) Grandchildren and (1) Great grandchild; Brothers, Theodore Graves (Barbara), Clifton Graves (Felisia); Mother-in-law, Pauline Brown; Sister-in-law, Doreen Venezia, and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
