Michelina Delucrezia Graham

Kelina Graham, born on January 8, 1921, passed away on January 14, 2011. She is survived by her two sons, Danny Graham and Michael Graham, and Danny’s wife Jan and two daughters Heather and Meghan, Michael’s wife, Vicki and two children, Matthew and Jennifer. Her son George R. Graham died of cancer in 2008.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 18, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and funeral services will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 19 all at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens located at 5599 Poplar Avenue. Burial will follow at West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Kelina was married to George C. Graham of Memphis for 48 years, who passed away in 1995. She met George in 1945, during WWII in Rome, Italy. George was an army sergeant and part of the Allied forces occupying Italy after the defeat of the Nazis. Kelina (Michelina Delucrezia) was an interpreter for the British Consulate and was attracted to George, who happen to be one of the few GIs in Rome who had a jeep. She later came to Memphis in 1947 to marry George and start raising a family in America. After George retired from the U.S. Air Force, they both returned to Memphis, TN, where she worked as a teacher at Treadwell H.S. and White Station J.H. She was also a very accomplished tailor, self taught, making wedding dresses, shirts, sport jackets, and much of her own clothes.

Kelina was the oldest of four children, born in Campobasso, Italy. Her sister, Angela, and two brothers, Pasquale and Antonio are deceased. She lived through many difficult years in Italy during the Depression of the 1930’s and Fascist dictatorship. Leaving her family in Italy to become the wife an American GI and raise three children in different parts of the world displays her courage and strength to become the strong and loving person we will remember. As a believer in the Lord Jesus, we take comfort in knowing she will be resting in His love and salvation for eternity.

Online condolences may be made by visiting www.memphisfuneralhome.net.