Barbara Ann Graham

Barbara Ann Graham

Barbara Ann Graham of Charlottesville, died on Sunday, August 19, 2012.

She was born in Covington, Virginia, on November 30, 1930, the daughter of the late Joseph Robert Graham and Flossie Montgomery Graham Tucker.

She is survived by a sister, Betty Graham Oliver and her husband, Buddy Oliver, of Ashland, Virginia; her niece, LaDonna Kessler and her husband, Jules, of Bradenton, Florida; nephews, Donald Oliver, James Oliver and his wife, Nancy, Robert Oliver and his wife Joy, all of Virginia. She is also survived by three great-nephews, Shawn, Brandon and Joshua Oliver; as well as a number of special cousins in Covington, Virginia, and West Virginia.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Joyce Graham Whitesel; her brother, Joseph Robert Graham Jr.; and niece, Betsy Whitesel of Columbus, North Carolina; Barbara grew up and attended schools in the Covington/Hot Springs, Virginia area and graduated from Covington High School. Her father owned and operated Graham's Market in Covington during and after the Depression years. In 1939, the family moved to a farm in nearby Bath County, Virginia. While attending school in Hot Springs, Barbara began to develop a great affection for athletic events and participation, beginning with the girls' basketball team at Valley High School. She also found great joy in living on the farm and helping out with the raising of turkeys, cattle, sheep, and the harvesting of garden vegetables. As a teenager, she learned to drive the farm pick-up truck amongst the trees in the apple orchard. She has often remarked that these years held her fondest and happiest memories.

In 1949, Barbara entered nursing school in Lynchburg, Virginia. Subsequently as a registered nurse she was employed by Lynchburg General Hospital, then H.K. Porter Company. Later, she was employed as a public health nurse in Fairfax County, Virginia. Her years in public health inspired her to seek further education. She received a BSN degree from the University of Virginia and a Master's degree in Public Health Nursing from Emory University in 1971 and a Doctorate in Education in 1981 from the University of Virginia. Barbara joined the faculty in the University of Virginia School of Nursing in 1971, where she taught until her retirement in 1994 as an associate professor Emeritus. Barbara was a fervent believer in the value of public health and community nursing and she cherished her years working with nursing students and faculty colleagues in these endeavors. Her publications and research was directed to health promotion, health education, home health and women's health, particularly the prevention of osteoporosis in women.

In her younger days, Barbara enjoyed tennis; snow skiing, water skiing, golf and swimming. She won several city tennis championships throughout her life. In recent years, she was a loyal member of the Birdwood Ladies Golf Association and enjoyed many events with this very special group of women. Barbara was an active member at Peace Lutheran Church.

A memorial service will be held in the chapel of Teaque Funeral Home, 11 a.m. August 28, 2012. Interment will take place at a later date at the University of Virginia Cemetery.

Please send memorials to the University of Virginia School of Nursing, P.O. Box 800782, Charlottesville, VA 22908; or charity of choice.

Friends may sign the guest register at teaguefuneralhome.com.



This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.