June 19, 1917 ~ December 8, 2010 (age 93)
Funeral services for Jesse J. Graham, Jr., age 93, of Norman, will be held at 10:00 am Monday, December 13, 2010, in The Chapel of the Havenbrook Funeral Home, 3401 Havenbrook Street in Norman.
Jess was born June 19, 1917, in Waycross, Georgia, the son of Jesse James and Cathrine Ellen (Villeneuve) Graham, Sr. He passed away early Wednesday morning, December 8, 2010, at the Norman Veteran's Center.
Jess attended schools in Florida, graduating from Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1936. He later enlisted into the United States Army Air Corps on November 10, 1942, serving as a pilot. He was honorably discharged on October 31, 1945.
Jess was united in marriage to Miss Cecile Myover on November 13, 1942, in Helena, Arkansas. They resided in Florida while Jess served in World War II. After the war, they lived in Memphis, Tennessee, for a brief time before moving to Oklahoma City in 1962, where Jess began a career in retail management. He retired from T G & Y as a retail manager in the mid 1980's.
During retirement Jess and Cecile enjoyed traveling, spending time on the beach, and perhaps their favorite pastime, being with their family, especially the grandchildren. Jess had a great love for flying and spent hours soaring through the sky and teaching others to fly responsibly.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Norman.
Jess was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Cecile, on May 5, 2005; and two sisters, Kathryn Johnson and Edith Anderson.
Survivors include his son, James A. "Al" Graham and his wife, Patricia J. "Patti" of Norman; three grandchildren; James A. Graham and his wife, Jennifer of Norman, OK; Kara J. McDonald and her husband, Seth of Oklahoma City; Jeffrey A. Graham and his wife, Amanda of Norman, OK; five great grandchildren; Connor Graham, Gavin Graham, Jesse Graham, Jayden Graham and Katelin McDonald; and two sisters, Florence Heath and Sally Simpson, both of Florida.
Memorial donations may be made in Memory of Jesse J. Graham, Jr., to the First Baptist Church of Norman, 211 West Comanche, Norman, Oklahoma 73069.
The Graham family will greet friends from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Sunday, December 12, 2010, at the Havenbrook Funeral Home, 3401 Havenbrook Street in Norman.
Interment will be held at 10:00 am Tuesday, December 14, 2010, at the Cotton Plant Cemetery in Cotton Plant, Arkansas.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Havenbrook Funeral Home of Norman.