Carrie Virgil Anderson Graves

GRAVES Carrie Virgil Anderson Graves, affectionately known as "Mother" and "Ma Dear", was born on April 1, 1917 in Farmville, Virginia to parents Charlie and Lelia Anderson. She departed this life on August 25, 2010 after a lengthy illness and loving care at Wexner Heritage Village in Columbus, Ohio. Growing up in West Virginia, Carrie spent her adult life here in Columbus, where she was a devoted wife and homemaker; a dedicated mother, grandmother, great/great-great-grandmother; a loving sister and aunt; a loyal friend; and a life-long and faithful servant of GOD. She joined Mt. Olivet Baptist Church as a young adult and was a founding and active member of the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church Volunteers' Club; and she was a member of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs, Inc. Carrie is preceded in death by husbands John Frank Graves and Oscar Ramey, Sr., her parents Charlie and Lelia Anderson, brother Calvin, sisters Irene and Rosalee, sons Dorsey and Richard, daughter Morena, granddaughter Patrice Darcel, grandson Jamal and great-grandson Jan. Carrie leaves to cherish her memory and mourn her passing: sisters, Mary King and Ella Hairston, Birmingham, Alabama; daughters, Odella T. Welch, Shirlee E. Brant (Jesse) and Angela F. Ford, Pittsburgh, PA; son, Oscar Ramey, Jr. (Brenda), Bronx, NY; 15 grandchildren, Denise Welch, Melanie Mitchell, Tampa, FL, Sheri Lynn Welch, Antioch, CA, Lori Welch-Smith (Raymond), Vicki Harris, Vandalia, Ohio, Staci Johnson, Rodney Harris (Ninette), Vandalia, Ohio, Pastor Anthony E. Calloway, Michael Ramey, Bronx, NY, Richie Hogue, Bronx, NY, Titus (Gwendolyn), Kwane, and Ahmad Wilder, Bronx, NY, Tatia Ford Johnson (Steve), Upper Marlboro, MD and Erin Ford, Pittsburgh, PA; 25 great-grandchildren, 16 great-great-grandchildren; a host of loving nieces and nephews; and several very dear friends. Friends are invited to call on Friday, September 3 from 6-8 p.m. at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, 428 E. Main Street. The service celebrating her life will take place on Saturday, September 4 at 9:30 a.m. also at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in the name of Carrie Graves to Wexner Heritage Village, 1151 College Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, 43209. Arrangements entrusted to EDWARDS FUNERAL SERVICE. www.EdwardsFuneralService.com