OPAL RICHARDSON GRAVES

1921 - 2017

GRAVES,
OPAL RICHARDSON
Opal Richardson Graves, 96, of Clearwater, Florida, passed away on November 28, 2017.
She is preceded by her husband of 72 years, Samuel Ray Graves.
Survivors include three daughters, Rebecca Shaw of St. Petersburg, Katherine Springfield and her husband, Thaxton, of St. Augustine and Beth Davis and her husband, George, of Clearwater. She is survived by five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Opal is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Her extended family also includes the members and families of the Silver Sixties, a group of former University of Florida football players-- men who played football for Ray in the 1960's.
Opal was born in Norwood, Missouri, but grew up in Tazewell, Tennessee, the daughter of Clarence and Rachel Richardson, and the middle child of six siblings. She attended public schools in Claiborne County and was educated at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn. and East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn. After receiving her teaching certificate at 18, she taught in a rural, one-room schoolhouse, grades one through eight.
She married Ray in 1942 and subsequently lived in Philadelphia, Penn., where Ray played professional football with the Philadelphia Eagles. Ray was an Assistant Coach at both the University of Tennessee and Georgia Tech, and ultimately was head football coach and athletic director at the University of Florida. They retired to the Tampa Bay area in 1980.
She always enjoyed her life and was active in the church and university and community affairs. Mother was inquisitive, practical, extremely competent and compassionate. The personal notes, the phone call of support, the kind gestures were things we will always remember. She was a life-long red-head and often showed the stereotypical spunkiness associated with red heads. More than one of her friends has remarked that in times of stress, they would ask themselves 'what would Opal do?' To say we will miss her is an understatement.
A private burial will be at the Irish Cemetery in Tazewell, TN. There will be a memorial service at a later date at Lake Magdalene Methodist Church in Tampa. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the United Methodist Womens' Ministry at Lake Magdalene Methodist Church, 2901 Fletcher Ave., Tampa, FL 33618. To visit the family's online obituary, please visit: www.coffeyfh.com