TITLE:  Robert E. Graham, Sr

SOURCE:  The Post and Courier, July 29, 2001

SUBMITTED BY:  The Post and Courier

FORMATTED BY:  Kim Grissom, July 2001

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SUMTER - Robert E. Graham, Sr., 85, husband of Isabelle Rodgers Graham,
died Saturday, July 28, 2001, at a Columbia hospital.Born in Sumter on
January 28, 1916, he was a son of the late Robert Davidson and Martha 
Wilson Graham.Mr. Graham was a member of the Episcopal Church of the 
Holy Comforter where he served on the Vestry. He was a 1933 graduate 
of Sumter High School and a 1937 graduate of Washington and Lee 
University. He was a World War II veteran, serving in North Africa, 
Italy, France, Germany, Austria, with the 36th Division including eight
campaigns and two "D" Day Landings. He was awarded the Meritorious 
Service Medal, the Purple Heart Medal with two clusters, the Bronze 
Star Medal with cluster, the Silver Star Medal and the French Croix De 
Guerre.Mr. Graham served as a Sumter City Councilman from 1946-1950, 
Mayor of Sumter 1964-1972, Chairman of Shaw-Sumter Community Council 
1964-1972, Vice-President Sumter County Commission for Higher Education
1974-1978, member of the S.C. Commission on Higher Education 1978-1986,
he served as a Director of Blue Cross - Blue Shield of S.C. 1967-1974, 
he was a Life Trustee and Treasurer of the Tuomey Hospital Board of 
Trustees for 20 years. He was a Past President of the Sumter Junior 
Chamber of Commerce and Past President of the Greater Sumter Chamber 
of Commerce.Mr. Graham was Past President of the Sumter Real Estate 
Board and was Past President of the Sumter Family Y.M.C.A. He was a 
Past Master of the Claremont Masonic Lodge and Past Commander of the 
American Legion Post #15. He was a member and Past President of the 
Sumter Lions Club and a former Chairman of the Municipal Democratic 
Party of Sumter and a former Chairman of the Sumter County Democratic 
Party.He was a Director and former Chairman of the Board of the First 
Federal Savings and Loan Association in Sumter from 1954-1982 and was 
a director of First Federal of South Carolina from 1982-1986.He was 
owner and operator of G&W Real Estate Company and Graham Real Estate 
in Sumter for many years.Surviving are his wife of Sumter; one son, 
Robert E. Graham, Jr., and his wife Susan of Columbia; two daughters, 
Georgianna G. Graham of Columbia and Mary G. Jenkins and her husband 
Marvin of Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; one brother, John M. Graham of 
Hendersonville, N.C.; three grandchildren, Grace Graham, Lucy Graham 
and Graham Jenkins.He was preceded in death by five sisters, Elizabeth 
G. Gallagher, Georgianna G. Thomas, Margaret G. Love, Sadie G. Randall 
and Helen G. Stoddard.Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, 
at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter with the Rev. Dr. John M.
Barr and Rev. Mark Riggs officiating.Burial will follow in the Sumter 
Cemetery.Nephews will serve as pallbearers.Honorary pallbearers will 
be Dr. Charles Lemmon, Ed Cuttino, Bob Levi, Ramon Schwartz, Dr. Harry 
Harvin and Harold Moise.The family will receive friends at the home, 26
Swan Lake Drive.ELMORE-HILL-MCCREIGHT FUNERAL HOME is in charge of 
arrangements. (The Post and Courier July 29, 2001)
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