Elnora S. Graves

Mrs. Elnora Spratley Graves, formerly of Hopewell, departed this life Monday, Oct. 20, 2008, in Silver Springs, Md.

She was the daughter of the late John and Elnora Spratley. A native of Hopewell, she attended Carter G. Woodson School. She left Hopewell in the 1960s and relocated to Washington, D.C., where she worked as a private duty nurse's aide until she returned to Hopewell in 1981. She served for many years as deaconess at Holy Trinity Church, Hopewell, and was later named mother of the Holy Trinity Church, Richmond. She recently became very ill and was cared for at the home of her nieces in Maryland.

Elnora was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Graves of Washington, D.C.

Mrs. Graves leaves to cherish her memory: two devoted sisters, Emily Graves and Missionary Elsie M. Sulton; two sisters-in-law, Pearl Spratley and Sally Gardener, all of Hopewell; one son, Charles Green of Maryland; several godchildren, one of whom was Katherine Holloway, with whom she spent her last days, Crystal Spratley, Jonathan Spratley, Tiffanie and Jeremy Thomas, Jemal Cheatham Sr. and Latasha Jefferson; many other children who loved her like a mother, Quadell, Jemal Jr., Janae, Jeremy Jr., Kahlil, Mehki, Camren and many more; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends including her niece Missionary Ardell Graves; a good friend, Mrs. Gertrude Tucker of Hopewell; other relatives and friends.

A funeral service will be held at noon Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Chapel of Turner-Bland Funeral Home, with Elder Cetha Boone eulogizing and Elder Columbus Burrell officiating. The interment will be in Mount Sinai Community Cemetery, Prince George. Attending relatives and friends will assemble at the residence of Ardell Graves, 1904 Stewart Ave., Hopewell, at 11 a.m. the day of the service.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the staff of Turner-Bland Funeral Home, Hopewell, William N. Bland Jr., funeral director; (804) 458-5357. Please send online condolences to www.blandenterprisesinc.com.