Ruby Pearline Graham's Obituary
SERVICES- 10:00 am Thursday, January 29, 2015 in The Chapel at Fairview Cemetery in Memphis with Rev. Dale Miller, officiating.
INTERMENT- Fairview Cemetery in Memphis.
Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Memphis.
Ruby P. Graham quietly entered Heaven on Tuesday, January 27, 2015. She was 88 years old. She was born July 7, 1926 to Joe & Bertie Oakley at their homeplace South of Memphis. She was the youngest of 8 children. She delighted in being the spoiled baby. Many memories recanting hilarious, takes of this precocious little girl. She attended grade school at Gammage School, a one-room divided by a sheet to separate older students from the younger ones. Her maternal grandfather donated the land & built the school. She furthered her education at public schools and high school at Memphis. She married Lester W. Graham on June 19, 1944. Their courtship took place at the skating rink and their marriage was one of 49 years until Lester’s death in 1993. They made Memphis their home where they raised four children. In 1966, she graduated from the first class of Licensed Vocational Nurses in Memphis. She worked as an LVN for numerous years at Hall County Hospital. She also did various private duty nursing jobs for individual families. There are those who still speak kindly of her as being the most dedicated and caring nurse they had ever known. She had a personality to match no other. She could be serious at one minute and at the next she loved to tell jokes. She certainly let one know where one stood with her and she didn’t have any problem giving her opinion in situations. She was a beloved wife, mother, and Nanny; a meticulous housekeeper, and famous for her sunk in the middle but delicious cakes. She could always laugh at herself baking those. She was baptized in the Baptist faith & was a charter member of the Travis Baptist Church. She played piano by ear & she passed her love of music on to her children and grandchildren as well. Many of her fun-filled times were spent singing Karaoke at family gatherings every Friday night up until the age of 84. She still remains the Queen of Karaoke. Mother, walk slowly for soon we will follow.
PRECEDED IN DEATH BY – Yet, in her lifetime she knew tragedy and heartbreak with the death of her parents; 4 brothers, Irvin, Dick, Jim, and Sonny Oakley; 2 sisters, Estelle Hudson and Josie Oakley; husband, Lester; their first born grandchild, Macelanie Joyce Graham; and her daughter in law, Brenda Joyce Graham.
SURVIVORS – While she’s rejoicing in heaven with them and many more who have gone before her, she leaves other to mourn her passing, sons, Keith Graham of Claude and Gary Dale Graham and wife Nita of Memphis; daughters, Sissy Thweatt and husband Jerry of Saint Jo and Rita LeGate of Memphis; her 10 grandchildren, Heath Spruill, Dee Collum, Jodie George, Mickie McQuirk, Justin Thweatt, Leslie White, Mark Graham, Missy Henderson, Brandi Beagle, and Terry LeGate; 19 great grandchildren; 2 great great grandchildren; and 1 sister, Helen Collins.
MEMORIALS- The family request memorials be sent to the Fairview Cemetery Association, American Heart Association, or a favorite charity of choice.
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Share a story where Ruby's kindness touched your heart.
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