Patricia Eager Graham Downs

March 12, 1920 – June 16, 2016 “Do not put in (the) newspaper that I have ‘passed away’ – I did NOT pass away. I died. It’s appointed unto man (or woman) once to DIE – NOT ‘pass away' (Hebrews 9:27).” I died! To die is GAIN.” This was on a sticky note in our mother’s handwriting. She gave this to her son, Keith, almost 10 years ago. Our mother, Pat, lived a long, fruitful life. She was a generous woman to her family and friends. Pat was a stylish dresser, energetic, full of life and never met a stranger. She had friends across generations. She was born in Jackson, Mississippi on March 12, 1920, to Patrick Henry Eager Jr. and Minnie Mae Wilkinson. Her sisters were Mary Jane Edgar and Mai Eager Dalziel, both deceased. She graduated from Central High School in Jackson. She attended her first year of college at Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg, Virginia. She transferred to Millsaps College in Jackson, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She married Henry Grady Graham in 1942. After World War II, they returned to Jackson where Grady established an automobile business and she worked at home, rearing their three children, Patrick, Keith and Rebecca. The Graham family was members of First Presbyterian Church where Pat was very involved. Pat taught several classes, including a 'Singles and Doubles' Sunday school class, a women's Bible class and a couples Bible study. She loved God with all her heart and even after she began to lose her eyesight she would listen to audiotapes, often on Romans, her favorite book of the Bible. She lived and left a legacy of generosity and love of Jesus Christ. After the death of her husband, Grady, she moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, where her sister Mary Jane lived. In 1998 Pat moved to Roanoke, Virginia to be near her son Keith and three of her six grandchildren. There she taught a women’s Bible study at First Presbyterian Church. She moved again in 1998 to Missoula, Montana with her son Keith and three grandsons. Once again she taught a women’s Bible study at Missoula’s First Presbyterian Church. She taught until the age of 87, impacting the lives of many women. Later in life, Pat moved to Boone, North Carolina where her oldest son Patrick and his wife Gloria and Pat’s daughter, Rebecca, cared for her. During her last years of life, she was lovingly cared for at Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living. Pat is survived by children: Patrick Henry Graham and his wife Gloria Grubbs Graham, George Keith Graham and Rebecca Graham Glaser; grandchildren Nathan Grady Graham, Jordan Clay Baxter, Hunter Grady Graham, Joshua Reynolds Graham, Reid Alexander Graham, Kathryn Glaser Elias and Elizabeth Glaser Strickland; great-grandchildren William Graham and Gardner Graham; nieces Pat Bartee and Christine Moody, and nephews Carl B. Anderson III and David Anderson. A memorial service will be held at Lakewood Funeral Home on Friday, June 24 at 1 pm. Visitation will be held from 12 to 1 pm. Memorial gifts can be sent to Billy Graham Evangelic Association or Samaritan’s Purse.