Clay County GA Archives Obituaries Judge W. A. Graham 1904 This file contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Lindy Hard" ********************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store this file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/clay.htm Table of Contents page http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Georgia Table of Contents ********************************************************************************** Fort Gaines Sentinel 26 Feb 1904 [Fort Gaines, Clay Co GA] "Judge W. A. Graham Dead." "It required no flare of trumpets, no clash of cymbals, no crepe, or other insignia of the presence of the Angel Azrael, to convince one in our town on Wednesday morning that some one dear to the public heart had passed away. Men passed one another with averted faces, spoke to one another in the hushed whisper that always betokens calamity; the sad tidings were spreading, --Judge Gaham had just died. It was not unexpected, yet expectation, which amounted almost to a certainty, could not deaden the shock, nor soften the force of the blow. The leader among men had gone from among them, and none could be found who were not sorrowful. While Judge Graham had been known to be in failing health for the past several months, increasing in infirmity, his death came after a short painful illness contracted only a few days before. He passed away at this home Wednesday morning at a little before six o'clock. William A. Graham was born in Columbia county, Ga., Dec. 8, 1832, and at the age of twelve years came with the family of his father to "Old Lanier," in Macon county, where he lived until manhood, following the vocation of a teacher in the schools of the day, for which he was eminently fitted, both by nature and education. In July, 1852, just before he reached his majority, he was most happily married to Miss Francis Royal, of Taylor county, and moved to Butler, in that county, where they resided until they came to Fort Gaines, the scene of his last days in the earth, and from whence he departed to that better land. A family of one daughter, Mrs. M. G. Sutlive, and three sons, Messrs. E. A., W. B., and J. E. Graham, are left with the devoted wife, besides a large number of grandchildren and relatives, to mourn his departure. For seventy-one years and three months he lived in the earth, and departed full of honors. No man ever lived in this community who has in any way even approximated the high standing and useful life of Judge Graham. He was at an early period a judge of the old Inferior Court of Georgia, whence he derived his title; was a gallant confederate soldier; represented his county in both the house of representatives and senate of the state, and was ever considered foremost in leading the hosts of Christ in the Methodist church, of which he was a devoted member, and had he lived a few years more, whould have completed a record for service in his church as Sunday school superintendent, extending over half a century. In 1869 he was appointed agent for the Southwestern railroad at Fort Gaines, which postition he filled with fidelity to his company and credit to himself, to the day of his death. The funeral took place Thursday, from the Methodist church, at ten o'clock in the morning, conducted by Rev. W. F. Smith, Presiding Elder of the Americus District, assisted by Revs. J. S. Funderburk, pastor, A. E. Keese and D. D. Bateman. The funeral exercises were attended by what was said to be the largest congregation at any church in the history of the town. At the conclusion of these exercises, the remains were escorted to the cemetery by the masonic fraternity, of which Judge Graham was a member of high degree. Arriving there District Deputy Grand Master Moody, of Cuthbert, who conducted the ceremonies, announced that by special order from the Grand Master of Georgia, he had opened an "emergency lodge" of that degree. The exercises closed 1 o'clock p.m. and the immense throng departed, having paid the last tribute to a great and good man. Visiting masons attended from Cuthbert, Coleman and Shorterville, a special train bringing those from Cuthbert and Coleman."