Bothwell Frank Graham

Bothwell Frank Graham, 79, of Columbia, SC, son of Dr. Bothwell Graham III and Eleanor Zientara Graham, slipped away peacefully at home Thursday, September 3rd, with his cherished wife Linda at his side. He was born in Norfolk, Virginia on February 23rd, 1947.

He was one of God’s gentlest gentlemen and gentlest souls, spreading kindness, compassion, and laughter wherever he walked or traveled in his rich, ever-giving life.

He will be buried in a graveside service Saturday, September 12th, 10 A.M., at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, next to his Mother and Father.

Bothwell attended Brennen, Crayton, and A.C. Flora in Columbia, S.C., and later graduated from the Citadel in 1969, 2nd Battalion Adjutant, Captain, U.S. Army, Infantry. At his graduation, he was honored to meet the legendary World War II Commander, General Mark Clark, as well as James F. Byrnes, the then-Governor of South Carolina and former U.S. Vice President under Franklin Roosevelt and Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Both these distinguished men told Bothwell’s WWII Navy veteran parents what a fine son they’d raised, making them beam and Bothwell blush.

Captain Graham later received his JD from the University of South Carolina Law School in 1972. He loved the practice of law and was inspired by many associates who he believed represented “the best in our judicial system.” He practiced many kinds of law from family and adoption law to communications law—he was proud his legal expertise helped start WMHK, a Christian broadcast network. He practiced criminal law, as well, offering all his clients, whatever their needs, advice and counsel from his St. Andrews office for the next 54 years, still taking calls last week. He considered his clients friends and greatly admired the many judges before whom hie appeared for so many years.

Attorney Graham grew up attending St. Martin’s in the Fields Episcopal Church in Columbia, where he was an Altar Boy and Chief Acolyte. He later attended St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. At the time of his passing, he was for many years a member of Christian Life in Irmo, where he made countless friends, including his wonderful Pastors Stephen Chitty and Justin Smith.

Of his wife Linda, he could never say enough. Theirs was a great love story. He called her “a beautiful woman of grace and wisdom,” and said she brought him “more joy and happiness than I have ever known.” Everyone who knew them knew they were inseparable and heard them freely tell each other many times a day, “I love you!” In the last words he wrote, he said, “Thank you for holding my hand, going to the park, to our bench, praying with me, going to church with me, going to work with me, and loving me as we enjoyed life together.” He added, “Being your husband has been the greatest privilege and honor in my life. I love you more, the most, and the mostest!” For the time after he goes to Eternal Glory, whenever that might be, he handwrites in red ink to reassure her, “We will see each other again. LINDA, I LOVE YOU FOREVER!”

He also left this: “To my beloved son, Bothwell. You gave me the joy of being a father. You were absolutely perfect as a son, and a joy for your mother and me to raise and watch you grow and become a man. You made a wise choice in choosing Elisabeth as your wife and she has blessed me as a daughter and given you lovely Baeotta for your daughter.”

His life was a life of abounding joy and he never stopped praising God for His many blessings. Despite his long and heroic struggle with illness, he wrote “I have been blessed with a wonderful life and have no complaints. I was blessed with loving Christian parents, and my sister Eleanor, beautiful on the inside and outside, and my brothers, Ken and Frank, who put up with me over the years. My Dad was a loving father and gentle doctor who the Lord used to bless our family and heal many patients. My Mother is an angel. Growing up in our home was a joy and a pleasure.”

His Christian faith never failed to sustain him through the darkest times and he knew his last breath on Earth would be his first breath in Heaven. “I have always been excited,” he wrote, “about Heaven and all the joys we have there. Imagine being in the actual presence of JESUS CHRIST! And speaking with him face to face! Imagine meeting all the Apostles and Saints and our loved ones who have gone before us! Death is the door to Heaven, and for Christians, we know we never die, we simply change from mortality to immortality.” Some of his most peace-giving Bible verses were “This is the day the Lord has made/ Let us rejoice and be glad!” and Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd/ I shall not want.” And John 14:1-6 and John 11:25, “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” Bothwell learned to play the piano when he was young, music was always an integral part of his life, and he especially loved the hymns “Amazing Grace,” and “When We All Get to Heaven.”

Up to his last day he was himself an amazing example of grace and graciousness. Always grateful for any kindness, no matter how small, he was an unabashed connoisseur of pleasures, no matter how simple. The tough Army Captain could flash in an instant to a little boy when happily slurping a Wendy’s Chocolate Frostie or eating a ripe red slice of watermelon. Last week, still, if he was thirsty and someone gave him a glass of cool water, he would beam and it appeared he’d been given the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars. And his goofy, often deadpan wit never left him. To his last day last Thursday, even though he still sometimes grappled with extreme pain, he cracked up his doctors, nurses, friends, family,

aides, UPS, and medical supply people. Those who saw this will never forget it. His multifaceted ministry on Earth included the healing joy of laughter.

In addition to his wife Linda, he is survived by his beloved son, Bothwell Graham IV (Elisabeth); brother-in-law General Buddy Kammer, nephew Chris Kammer, and niece Paula Morones (Mike); cousins Diane Chevron Wright and Debbie Chevron Link (Jim), Beth McCaskill Smith (Richard), Kathy McCaskill Ropp (Bobby) Gene McCaskill (Elaine), and Sally McCaskill Smith (Mac); daughters-in-law Melissa Hensley and Sarah Bentley (Jon); cousins Frances Wade Crozier (Richard), nephews Charles Bragston (Buddy) Jones III, and Kenneth Jones (Sharon), and; cousins Susan Graham McDowell (Jim); Reverend William “Billy” Wade (Theodosia); great nieces Alicia Jones Gardner (McClarey), Victoria Jones-Metze (Andrew); great nephews Kenneth Jones and Ryan Jones (Jade), and Bragston Jones; grandchildren, Baeotta Graham, Alex Taylor, Liza Hobbs, Viola Bentley, and Sophia Rose Hensley. In recent years, all his grandchildren were sources of joy, but Sophia Rose and Viola were an endless standup comic duo and went above and beyond the call of duty to keep him and Linda laughing and full of fountaining delight. And he also had the gift of seven great-great nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Bothwell Graham III, his mother-in-law Margaret Hudson (Luther); grandparents Professor Bothwell Graham Jr. (Katharine Bean), Frank Joseph Zientara, (Frances Kubiak); his aunts, Moragne “Rannie” Wade (Bill) and Elizabeth McCaskill (Gene), and his dear sister, Eleanor Graham Jones, brother-in-law Charles “Buddy” Jones; cousin Bonnie Wade, sister-in-law Jean Ghent Kammer (Buddy); and Carol Ghent Graham—his great love for the 40 years of their marriage.

Bothwell Graham never met a stranger and enjoyed rich and countless friendships during his nearly 80 years. Some of his closest friends included Mel Ellison, Skipper Sligh, Steve Deierlein, Hugh Munn, Reverend Michael Ondera and his wife, Susan, law partner Doug Kotti, law partner Bob Seaman, Dr. Stuart Hamilton, brothers-in-law Buddy Kammer and Buddy Jones, both “like brothers to me,” Stephen Chitty, Justin Smith, Dr. Swami, and David Fields.

He was accompanied by loving pets all his life, including “Bullet,” and his Great Danes “Spirit” and “Braven.” His still-surviving charmer is his and Linda’s cat, Precious. All his life, Both marveled at his pets’ “unconditional love.” And he reciprocated. Seeing him lying on the floor with his face up to his failing Great Dane “Spirit’s” watery eyes, his arms softly embracing him as if they were human pain medications, was a truly touching sight. He loved all animals, especially birds, and kept a daily-replenished bird feeder outside his kitchen window for hummingbirds and whatever other winged delights colored his backyard.

Bothwell was an Eagle Scout, and for many years a Scout Master. He loved sharing the fresh endless poetic wonders of God’s outdoors with his scouts and teaching them the Boy Scout Code of Conduct. He guided many young men, including his son, to the rank of Eagle Scout. A dedicated volunteer at Oliver Gospel Mission, another of his great passions was his

work with The Gideons, with whom he passed out compact Bibles at Ft. Jackson, the Baptist and Prisma Hospitals, local motels and prisons. For ten years, he worked in The Gideons’ prison ministry and called this time one of the most rewarding experiences of his life.

Bothwell Frank Graham truly lived A Wonderful Life, the title of his favorite movie and the last movie he saw, watching Jimmy Stewart and the angel Clarence raptly in his flickering den with his wife and brother last week.

In his militarily precise instructions for his graveside service, at which Pastor Stephen Chitty will officiate, he emphatically declared he wanted his funeral HAPPY, NOT SAD. “I will miss this life and my family and friends, but I look forward to seeing you all again! Never forget, ‘This is the day the Lord has made/ Let us rejoice and BE GLAD!’” His final written farewell he wants to extend to everyone at his graveside service is, “GOD BLESS EACH ONE OF YOU!”

In lieu of flowers, his family requests memorials be made to Pat Robertson’s Christian BroadcastingNetwork (CBN), 977 Centerville Turnpike, Virginia Beach, VA 23463; or Reverend Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse (Franklin Graham is the son of Reverend Billy Graham), PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607, 828.262.1980; or Christian Life Church in Irmo, SC, 2700 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC 29210; or The Gideons International, P.O. Box 292, Columbia, S.C. 29202.