James Robert Graves

James R. (Jim) Graves, Colonel, Retired U.S Army, age 86, of Collierville, Tennessee left us for the life everlasting with the Lord Jesus Christ on Tuesday, November 26th, 2019. He passed away peacefully in his home with his family.

Col. Graves was born January 2, 1933, in Magnet Cove Arkansas, to James V. Graves and Pearl Leila Cooke Graves. He graduated from Henderson College in Arkadelphia, Arkansas in May of 1954. He met his loving first wife, Mary Elizabeth (Libby) Graves in college and they were married for 54 years. She predeceased him in 2010. Jim and Libby have a daughter, Margie Graves, of Fairfax Station, Virginia.

Col. Graves was commissioned in the reserves as a second lieutenant, Infantry, in May of 1954, and then received a Regular Army Commission in the Quartermaster Corp in July of the same year. He is also a member of the 82nd Airborne. He served in Korea and Vietnam and traveled the world to multiple duty stations. He commanded the 530th Supply and Service Battalion at Fort Bragg, NC, and the Quartermaster Brigade at Fort Lee, VA. He was a graduate of the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College.

Col. Graves was the recipient of numerous awards over the course of his military career. He received the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army General Staff Badge, the Joint Chiefs of Staff Badge and the Senior Parachutist Badge.

Most recently, in 2013, Col. Graves was inducted into the Quartermaster Hall of Fame in Fort Lee, VA. in recognition of his quartermaster career and in particular contributions made during the Arab/Israeli conflict in the early 1970’s. He was assigned to the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the oil embargo. He was a member of a special team that analyzed the impact of the embargo on total force readiness. The Congressional PIKE Committee subsequently approved two major actions due to this analysis; an automated system to provide instant petroleum stack level status and, most importantly, the establishment of National Petroleum Reserves.

After retiring from the Army Jim had a post-military career with National Industries for the Blind. He was chair of the trustees of St. George’s United Methodist Church in Fairfax, VA. He and Libby eventually moved to Collierville in 2000 where they became members of Crossroads United Methodist Church. When Libby passed away in 2010 he was blessed to find love again with his second wife, Ruth Edwards. Jim and Ruth met at Crossroads United Methodist Church where they chatted in the pews and served on church committees together. Ruth and Jim were married in 2012 and Jim also gained a daughter, Ramona, a son-in-law, David, and two grandchildren, Erin and Joey.

In addition to his first wife, Libby, Jim was predeceased by his older sister, Helen Brinson and his younger brother Kenneth Graves. In addition to his daughter, Margie, and his wife Ruth and her family, he is survived by niece Beth Bryson (Miles) and family of Sommerville,TN; two nephews John Brinson (Martha) and family of Eugene, OR, and Lance Graves (Mary) and family of Omaha, NE.

In speaking to friends and family this week it was clear that Jim was a joy to those who knew him. He was always quick to make a joke and to sing a tune, with dancing included. He loved the great outdoors and his numerous pets. He was a Arkansas Razorbacks superfan and could quote all the stats. He was a devoted and loving presence for his family, a loyal and trusted friend, and a mentor to his Quartermaster colleagues. Jim did his best to live a life centered in Christ, devotion to family and service to his country. Rest in peace.

Viewing will be on Sunday, December 8th, from 5-7pm at Collierville Funeral Home, 534 W. Poplar Ave, Collierville, TN. The memorial service will be held at the same location on December 9th at 10am with reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Wounded Warrior Project in his honor or to the Peace Tree United Methodist Church.

http://support.woundedwarriorproject.org

http://peacetreeumc.org