Mrs. Flotella Graham

GRAHAM, Mrs. Flotella - age 82, went home to be with the Lord, Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at her residence. Family hour 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at Grace Emmanuel Baptist Church, 3502 Lapeer Rd. with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m. Pastor Marvin A. Jennings, Sr. officiating. Interment Flint Memorial Park Cemetery, G-9506 N. Dort Hwy., Mt. Morris, MI. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the Church 10 a.m. Tuesday. Mrs. Graham will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd. and may be viewed from 2 p.m.-8 p.m. Monday, with the family present from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Mrs. Flotella Davis Graham began her journey in life on October 9, 1931 in her birthplace, Mount Holly, Arkansas. At an early age, she professed her faith and joined the Friendship Baptist Church of Mt. Holly, AR. Shortly after moving to Flint, MI, she united with Grace Emanuel Baptist Church where she participated in the tutoring program and song in the Senior Choir. In July of 1957, Flotella was united in Holy Marriage to Mr. Jimmy Billy Graham and to this union two children were born. Flotella Graham received her Associate Degree from Arkansas Baptist College, Little Rock, AR; Bachelor of Science Degree from A M & N College, Pine Bluff, AR (now UAPB-University of Arkansas Pine Bluff); and Master of Arts Degree from Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI. In 1964, Flotella was employed by Flint Public Schools as an elementary school teacher. She taught at Kennedy Elementary and Freeman Elementary schools. She retired in 1992 after 28 years of service. Among Flotella’s favorite hobbies were shopping with her sister, Arzetta and daughter, sewing and watching television. She will long be remembered for her quiet, patient, loving and compassionate spirit. Her smile, her laughter and her jokes when least expected will be remembered fondly. She leaves to cherish her memory: devoted husband of 57 years, Jimmy B. Graham; son, Rodney (Sheila Miller) Graham of Flint, MI; daughter, Sheila Kathleen (Maurice) Grisham of Ypsilanti, MI; grandchildren, Natasha Graham of Atlanta, GA, Maurice Jr., Isaiah and India Grisham of Ypsilanti, MI; sisters, Arzetta (Samuel) Johnson of Flint, MI and Bernell Brown of Camden, AR; brother, Willie Lee Davis of Sacramento, CA; sister-in-law, Kathleen Graham Waters (Rudolph); brothers-in-law, Morris Graham (Bernedette) and Matthew Graham; a host of nieces and nephews other relatives and friends including special friends, Dorothy Hitts and Velonia Palmer. Mrs. Graham was preceded in death by her parents, Hudson and Estella Davis; sisters, Vernell Rhodes and Vern Ester Davis; and brothers, Milton K. and Billy Ray Davis. The family wishes to express special thanks to Louise Smith, care giver; Pastor Marvin A. Jennings, Sr. and the Grace Emmanuel Baptist Church Family, the Grand Blanc Rehabilitation Center, Pastor Gerald D. Cardwell and Quinn Chapel A. M. E. Church Family, National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., Gamma Delta Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Zeta Beta Omega Chapter, Hartland Hospice and Dr. Ahmad Al-Dabagh.

Mrs. Flotella Graham

October 9, 1931 - March 4, 2014