Opal Graves

Published 12:00 am Friday, June 1, 2007

Services for Opal Graves, 87, of Meadville, who died Wednesday, May 30, 2007, at Franklin County Memorial Hospital, in Meadville, will be 11 a.m. today at Providence Baptist Church with the Revs. Gene Richards and Richard Dunnam officiating.

Burial will follow at the church cemetery under the direction of Franklin Funeral Home in Meadville.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time today at the church.

Mrs. Graves was born Jan. 25, 1920, in Attala County, the daughter of Zebudee Pullen and Zenia Pee Pullen. She was retired from D.R. McGeehee Insurance Agency in Meadville. She was a member of Meadville Baptist Church at the time of her death. She was previously a member of Providence Baptist Church for 60 years and served in many capacities. She served several terms on the Mississippi Baptist Women’s Missionary Union Executive Board. Over the years, she served in every position of her local WMU Association.

Mrs. Graves was a member of the Franklin Women’s Club, the Pine Burr Garden Club and the Franklin American Legion Auxiliary. She was an avid golfer and a charter member of the Middlecork Country Club, where she was the first female to record a hole in one.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Carey E. Graves; and five siblings.

Survivors include her sons, Harold Carey Graves and wife, Catherine, of Meadville; daughters, Wanda Jean Cothern and husband, Wendell, of McComb, Diane Graves Mize of Meadville, and Cheryl McNeer of Bossier City; brothers, Billy Pullin of Charleston; sister, Earline Burton of Tutwiler; 13 grandchildren, Valerie Simmons, Patricia DeRouen, Denine Howell, Brian Mize, Barry Mize, Chris McNeer, Lauren Almeity, Kelly McNeer, Coleman Graves, Katelyn Graves, Madelaine Blackwell, Avery Blackwell and Savannah Blackwell; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearer will be Chris McNeer, Billy Joe Graves, Maurice Whitehead, Dr. Elmo Gilbert, Dr. Ben Yarbrough and Semmes Ross.

Memorials may be made to Meadville Baptist Church of Providence Baptist Church Building Fund.