Max was born on October 23, 1941, in Cherokee County, North Carolina to the late Reverend Willard D. and Edna Garrett Graham. He was raised in the Violet Community and attended Hiwassee Dam High School, where he graduated as salutatorian of his class. Max proudly served his country as a Veteran of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam Conflict. At a young age, he professed his faith in Jesus Christ. In his early adulthood, he was ordained as a deacon at Concord Baptist and then served as a deacon for many years at Central Baptist Church where he also was instrumental in heading up the building program. Max was also active in Gideons International.
He and his wife, Judy, prayerfully and financially supported missions and missionaries around the globe. He worked on construction crews to help build churches in Guatemala, hosted missionaries at a guesthouse in Hungary, and ministered at an orphanage in Russia. He also volunteered his time and skills for several summers across multiple states to help churches with construction projects. He truly lived out his faith by “praying, giving, and going.”
Max was a man of many talents. He had an entrepreneurial spirit and was the owner and operator of Graham Lawn Care and Graham Lawn Equipment in Douglasville, Georgia. He enjoyed bowling, hunting, and fishing. Later in life, after his Parkinson’s diagnosis, he took up boxing and was known in the ring as “Marvelous Max.” He was a creative craftsman; his magnum opus of construction was building a treehouse for his grandchildren using only the plans that he imagined in his mind.
He is survived by his wife of almost 54 years, Judy Poston Graham; his daughters, Sandra Martin (David), Kimberly Samples (Scott), Karen Waggoner (Rick), and Kellie Merwin (Stephen); his grandchildren, Steven (Suzie), Jeffrey (Sarah), Jennifer (fiance Derek Rivard), Danica, Miles, Daegan, Amelia, Grady, Bamboo, Oliver, and Indigo; his great-grandchildren, Lillian, Olivia, Abigail, Lucas, Evelyn, and William; and his siblings; Dorothy Roby, Helen Murphy (Olen), Will Graham, Jr., J.C. Graham (Dorothy), and Pat Forrister (Larry).
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Ernie Graham, Delores Graham, Lucy Rush, Ruth Kent and Naomi Graham.
The family will receive friends at Central Baptist Church’s Family Life Center on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 from 2:00 PM until 3 PM. The celebration of life service will follow at 3:00 PM. Max will be laid to rest at the church cemetery immediately following the service.
In place of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Central Baptist Church in Max’s memory for the Refresh Worship Initiative.
Whitley-Garner at Rosehaven is honored to be entrusted with the services of Mr. Graham.
If ordering a floral tribute, please contact our preferred florist for guaranteed service: Frances Florist, 12641 Veterans Memorial Highway Douglasville, GA, (770) 949-8711 or online at https://www.francesflorist.net/
