Willie Ivy Graham, Jr.

Willie Ivy Graham, Jr. was born on October 31, 1929 in Waycross, GA to Willie Ivy Graham, Sr. and Alma Morgan Graham, both deceased. A sister also predeceased him, Iva Lee Hawkins of Fayetteville, NC. He is survived by his loving wife of 22 ½ years, Carolyn Knopf Higgs Graham; his daughter, Debra Sanchez (Luis); his sister, June Holland (Bob) of Brookhaven, MS; his stepchildren, Ginny Romano (Dick), Wanda Cook, Ken Higgs (Teri), Gayle Houston (Frank); his grandchildren, Marcus and Ben Sanchez, Stacia Dean (Thomas), Lee Stine (Heather), Heather McHone (Bryan), Ryan Cook, Maxwell Higgs, Virginia, Sutton and Clancy Houston; great grandchildren, Worth, Clinton, Ginger and Holly Dean, Wallace and Pierce Stine; many nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

Willie (Billy) attended Lee High School and was an Army veteran serving in Japan, Korea and Germany. He was in the first wave of soldiers sent to the Korean Conflict where he was wounded and received the Purple Heart. Returning after six years in the service of our country he was employed and retired from CSX . He was a 50 year member of the United Transportation Union.

We will miss his great sense of humor, always making people laugh, his quick wit, his sweet even temper and his love for all people. I’m sure God will say “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” He was a member of Rick Petersen’s Sunday School class at First Baptist Church. He was a NASCAR fan and enjoyed watching car races.

My sweet Willie – we thank you for sharing your love.

The funeral service will be on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 in the chapel of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 4115 Hendricks Avenue at 2:00 PM. Internment at Riverside Memorial Park. A viewing is scheduled for 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Tuesday (today), March 9th at the funeral home.

We thank Community Hospice for their care and compassion for our much loved Willie.