Mrs. Graham was born in Lincoln County on January 17, 1921 a daughter of the late Ernest Reid Parker, Sr. and Cordie Elizabeth Wright Parker.  She attended North Brook Schools and then Berea College for the eighth grade.  She then went on to Brevard Junior College and graduated in 1942.  Prior to her marriage she worked for US Rubber as an inspector of 40mm percussion caps for the Navy during WWII and Bureau of Personnel in Charlotte.  She had worked in retail sales, for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California and for the Department of Interior in Post Angeles, Washington.  She was a wonderful homemaker raising her children.  She enjoyed raising Cocker Spaniel and Weimaraner dogs.

She has been a member of the Newcomers Club, American Society of Mechanical Engineers Auxiliary, Colonial Dames, American Legion Auxiliary and the Daughters of the American Revolution.  She was instrumental in winning two national awards for the Jacob Forney Chapter of the DAR.  The awards were for the annual program of Bells Across America.  She had been a tutor with the Lincoln County Literacy Council in Lincolnton.  She has been a lifelong member of Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Cherryville.

Survivors include her husband of 65 years, Robert Lee Graham, III, of the home; one son Richard Lee Graham and wife Sally Ann Barber Graham of Huntington Beach, CA; two daughters, Mrs. Elizabeth Louille Graham Smith and her husband Sheldon K. Smith of Gurdon, Arkansas and Nancy Williamson Graham and her husband David Brown of Berkeley, CA;  four grandchildren, Erik Oscar Smith, Tracy Lee Smith, Alison Lea Graham, Robert J. Graham and wife Yvonne and their daughters, Lisa Sophie and Vanessa Lea Graham;   five brothers, Clinton Parker and wife Esther of Laurinburg, John Parker of Lake Norman, Dr. Blaine Parker and wife Peggy of Lexington, KY, Ray Parker and wife Anna of Lincolnton, Stowe Parker and wife Patricia of Gastonia; two sisters Evelyn Leatherman and husband John of Lincolnton and Edna Brendle and husband John of Cherryville.

In addition to her parents Mrs. Graham was preceded in death by a son Robert Lee Graham, IV in 1947 and two brothers Jesse Hoyt and Ernest Reid Parker, Jr.

Funeral Services will be at 2:00p.m. on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at Bethlehem United Methodist Church, Cherryville with the Revs. Roy T. Byers and Billy Towery officiating.

Burial will be in Bethlehem United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Visitation will be in the Fellowship Hall following the service.

Memorials may be made to Bethlehem United Methodist Church, Cemetery Fund, c/o Doris Wilson, 147 Latham Wilson Rd. Lawndale, NC 28090.

A guest register is available at www.stameyfuneralhome.com

Stamey~Cherryville Funeral Home is serving the Graham family.