Nancy McGraw

Nancy Lu McGraw, 69, of Bryant, Arkansas, passed away January 3, 2023 in the comfort of her home. Over the years, Nancy endured many complications due to diabetes and renal disease. She was always a trooper and pulled through many trials.

Nancy was born on November 10, 1953 to Kenneth Wade and Alida Jean (Santiago) McGraw in Long Beach, California. Nancy was the 3rd child of five children. After graduating from Rancho Cotate High School in Rohnert Park, California in 1972, she moved to Commerce City, Colorado to be close to her mother and two brothers. Shortly after, she decided to move to Little Rock, Arkansas to be close to her father.

While in Little Rock, she had her first daughter and when her daughter was 18 months old, she decided to move back to Colorado to be with her family there. Just four months later, Nancy’s mother left without telling anyone where she was going and at the young age of 24, Nancy was now responsible for her young daughter and two teenage brothers. Nancy loved her brothers dearly and would do all she could do to give them a normal life. It wasn’t until 22 years later that their mother was found and in 1999, the family was reunited after over 20 years of being separated.

Nancy loved to do crafts, which she learned while in Girl Scouts for many years and also loved to bake. In 2015, Nancy suffered a stroke and had to learn how to talk again, but as she healed, the one thing she was most grateful for was that she regained her ability to bake. Not only did she love crafts and baking, but she also had a great personality and often made her family and those around her laugh even in the serious of situations. She will be greatly missed, but prayerfully those that were close to her will remember the quirky personality of Nancy.

Nancy was proceeded in death by her father, Kenneth Wade (March 2012); mother Alida Jean (May 2003); sister Janice Mae (5-month-old baby); sister Juanita Jean Laughlin (June 2015); and brother Lawrence Wade “Pepper” McGraw (February 2000).

She is survived by her brother, Kenneth Michael (Frances) of Hankinson, ND; daughter, Erica Essien McGraw of Bryant, AR, daughter, Desirae Angelique McGraw of Benton, AR, uncle Edwin Santiago of San Francisco, CA; twin uncles Joe of Kissimmee, FL and John Santiago of St. Cloud, FL and her three fur babies Lyla, Lola and Lulu of Bryant, AR. She also leaves behind eight nieces and nephews, a host of great nieces and nephews as well as three great-great nieces and nephews. She loved her family dearly.

Her Celebration of Life will be held at God Care We Care located at 7104 Mabelvale Cut Off Road, Little Rock, AR 72209 on Saturday, January 21st at 11 am. The service will be broadcast live at https://youtube.com/@ericamcgraw3831 and for replay. Should you want to send a note of condolences to the family, they can be sent to Divine Connections Outreach C/O Erica McGraw, P.O. Box 579, Bryant, AR 72089.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.pinecrestfh.com for the McGraw family.