Jessie Graham's Obituary
Jessie Graham was born January 14, 1945 in Ypsilanti, Michigan to the late Lula Pearl Cox and Milton Graham.Siblings: Charles Foster (deceased), Clifford Johnson (deceased), Eugene Graham (deceased), Belinda Johnson (deceased), Doris Gayle Johnson (deceased), Amie Johnson (deceased), Kenneth Johnson, Kerri Johnson (deceased), Retona Sanders, Leon Graham and Lester Graham. At age (2) Jessie moved to Alabama to live with his grandmother Alma Cox (predeceased), whom he loved dearly, and his grandfather John Cox (predeceased). Jessie attended Barbour County Public Schools as a child and attended Center Ridge Church in Mount Andrew, Alabama. At the age of (15) Jessie moved back to Detroit, Michigan with his mother, where he attended Detroit Public Schools and graduated from Cass Technical High School. Jessie was employed with General Motors from 1966-2000, he operated his own store within GM where he sold coffee, juice, chips and other snacks. Among those snacks were his famous zucchini muffins. In 1967, Jessie married Carol Herring, from that union he had three sons of whom he was very proud; Dondi, Torrence and Andrae. Jessie adored spending time with children, he coached and managed a little league baseball team. He took delight in playing basketball, horseshoes, and tennis. Fishing was a part of his recreational activities with his good friend Willie Harris, they were known as “Fred & Barney”. Among his many talents, bowling was his passion, he was captain of his bowling team and elected to name them “The Flames”. He traveled state to state playing in bowling tournaments until his health would not allow it. He joined Obedient Missionary Baptist Church where he was ordained as Deacon in 1988. Jessie was of good rapport and held the office of Deacon in a Christ-like manner. He later joined Pine Grove MBC where he was already a member of the Male Chorus. He found pleasure in singing, his favorite artist was Sam Cook next to Shirley Caesar. In 1992, he met his “Sugar” Charlene over a pan of dressing, from then on, they were inseparable. God blessed them to join in holy matrimony August 19, 1997. Graham loved Charlene and “his girls”, as he called them. Graham was filled with the Holy Ghost. Everywhere he went he never met a stranger, he always found the good in a person, he had a heart filled with love. He kept a smile on his face and had patience that surpassed Job’s. On June 7, 2018 Jessie was hospitalized due to severe illness. He fought a long fight until the Lord called him home on July 11, 2018 at 4:41a.m. He leaves to cherish his memory: Wife: Charlene Graham; Sons: Dondi Graham (Yvonne), Torrence Graham, Andrae Graham; Daughters: Antoinette Griffin, Artema Stephenson, Charma Stephenson, Angel Stephenson, Delene Adams; Grandchildren: Donte Graham (Narie), Desmond Graham, Tarea Mahan, Christopher Pender, Eneas Watts, Rio Byrd, Ahzahn Byrd, Joshua Watts, Micah Byrd, Ethan Watts, Zeda Byrd, Aaron McGraw, Austin Wilson, Gavin Wilson, Phoenix Stephenson; Great-Grandchildren: Kyrie Graham, Bailey Graham, Anesiah Pender, Landon Cuffy, Christian Pender, Kayleigh Pender, Brailynn Pender and Charlee Pender. Brothers: Leon Graham; Lester Graham (Christine); Kenneth Johnson (Yvonne), Tennessee; Sisters: Retona Sanders (Derrick); Aunts: Zera Rogers, Florida; Myrtle Jones; Mildred Shelton, Indiana; Alma Dorsey; Uncles: John L Cox (Barbara), Chicago; Lifelong friends: Willie Harris and Terry Coyle and a host of family and friends.
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