Dennis Graham, 84, of Paris, Tennessee, went to live with his Heavenly Father Friday, December 23, 2022.
Roy Dennis Graham was born Tuesday, November 22, 1938, in Henry Country, Tennessee. Dennis was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Rebecca Graham and his brother: Roger Graham.
He was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather, a respected artist and craftsman, and a devoted Christian.
He grew up in a close-knit family and as a youngster developed lifelong interests in hunting, woodworking, and folklore. A 1957 graduate of Henry High School, Dennis enlisted in the United States Navy and served in several domestic billets training Navy helicopter crews.
Dennis married the love of his life, Carol Gream, Saturday, November 6, 1965. Dennis and Carol raised their family in Paris, where Dennis coached his children’s soccer, baseball, and basketball teams. Dennis spent his professional career with the L&N (later CSX) railroad where he was a long-time conductor, retiring in 2001. A respected leader in his industry, Dennis served as Local Chairman of the United Transportation Union.
Dennis’s time after retirement was dedicated to travel and adventure with his family and pursuing his passions for woodcarving and folk art. Dennis served on the Board of the Paris Academy of the Arts and delighted in sharing his carvings and walking sticks with family and friends.
A long-time deacon at West Paris Baptist Church, Dennis was a current member of First Baptist Church of Paris. Throughout his life, he began every day with personal Bible study at dawn.
He is survived by Carol Graham, his wife of 57 years; his children: Deana (Derek) Jones, of Paris; Shannon (Ed Peterson) Graham, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Josh (Heather) Graham, of Charleston, South Carolina; his grandchildren: Tucker Jones, Ben Jones, Genevieve Peterson, William Peterson, Peyton Graham, and Lorelei Graham; and siblings: Dorothy (Baker) Kendall, of Springville, Tennessee, and Kenneth (Jaimi) Graham, of Hollow Rock, Tennessee.
Visitation will be Tuesday, December 27, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Ridgeway Funeral Home, and continues Wednesday, December 28, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Shiloh United Methodist Church, 350 Shiloh Church Road, Mansfield, Tennessee, 38236. The funeral service will be Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at Shiloh United Methodist Church, where he and Carol married 57 years ago.
Named as pallbearers are Tucker Jones, Ben Jones, Ed Peterson, Derek Jones, Kris Vanvolkinburg, and Will Peterson. “Hobbs” his cat is an honorary pallbearer.
Burial will follow in Shiloh Church Cemetery.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, friends donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or at www.stjude.org.