Joel T. Graves

Joel T. Graves, beloved husband and father, musician, minister, and servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at the age of 82, surrounded by loved ones.

Joel was born in Mexia, Texas on November 18, 1938 to the loving parents of HB and Roxie Lucille Carroll Graves, who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Carroll and Hillary Graves.

Joel graduated in 1956 from Denver City High School, Denver City, Texas and continued on to Oklahoma Baptist University. In his first semester at OBU, he met Martha Bell Dyke. She became the love of his life, and they married at First Baptist Church, Walters, Oklahoma in 1958. He graduated from OBU in 1963 with a BA in Music Education. Joel and Martha faithfully loved each other for sixty-two years.

Joel is survived by Martha, his devoted wife; his brother, Jerel Graves and wife Carolyn; and by their children, Kathy Snyman and Gene; David Graves and Kelly; and Duane Graves and Alysa. Together, their children blessed them with twelve grandchildren, Michael Snyman, Angela Snyman Schmidgall and Sean, Daniel Snyman and Sarah, Marissa Graves Lee and Jesse, Benton Graves, Timothy Snyman, Esther Graves, Kristen Graves, Teresa Snyman, Brianna Graves Morton and Spencer, Ava Graves and John Snyman; and four great-grandchildren, Gabriel, Raphael, and Nathaniel Schmidgall, and Claire Lee.

Joel had a strong call to serve within the church, and his love and joy for Jesus was expressed through worship by sharing the song in his heart. He was a gifted baritone and musician, and an industrious teacher and leader; yet Christ-like compassion was his specialty.  Joel’s full-time ministry lasted forty-five years. He faithfully served in thirteen churches within the Southern Baptist Convention, in seven states, primarily as a minister of music, youth, and education. His places of full-time service included First Baptist Churches of Walters and of Guthrie, Oklahoma; of Burkburnett and of Monahans, Texas; and Calvary Baptist Church of McAllen, Texas.

In every place he served, Joel invested in the lives of the area youth and fought against racial and economic barriers by encouraging all area teenagers into the fellowship of the youth group. He felt a special calling to pour Christ’s love into the lives of troubled teens, by which he became father to the fatherless and influenced many lives. In the later years of his ministry he served senior adults, bringing lightsome Christian joy to countless lives.

When he sang, he sang to the Lord, and brought others to the foot of the throne of God with his always joyous music. His life was painted on too large a canvas for us to understand, but God is there, and now he is with his God.

The family will receive friends between 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, February 11, 2021 at Owens & Brumley Funeral Home in Burkburnett.  Celebration services will be at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, February 12, 2021 at First Baptist Church of Burkburnett.  Joel will be laid to rest with the family in Walters Cemetery, Walters, Oklahoma.  Arrangements are under the direction of Owens & Brumley Funeral Home in Burkburnett.

In Lieu of flowers, please send donations to Baptist Home for Girls, 13976 Anthony Lane, Madill, Oklahoma 73446.