Ronald Dra Graham

Ronald Dra Graham, 53, 109 Church St., Buena Vista, Ga., passed Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007, at Vista Care Hospice Center, Columbus, Ga. Funeral service will be at 2:30 p.m. today at the Josh B. Gibson Center, Rogers Street, Buena Vista. Interment will follow in the Mount Olive Baptist Church Cemetery, Moody Road, Tazewell, Ga.

Mr. Graham was born Nov. 28, 1954, in Gadsden, Etowah County, Ala., to Nathan H. Graham and the late Joyce Adair Graham. He was united in holy matrimony to the former Debra Porter on May 21, 1994.

He was a 1972 graduate of Etowah High School, where he was an outstanding football player, wearing No. 77. He was a 1976 graduate of Livingston University, where he acquired his bachelor of science degree in education. As a football player at Livingston University, he was lettered and once again he was blessed to wear "77" on the football field. In 1996 and 1998, he received his master of science degree in guidance and counseling and his education specialist degree from Troy State University of Alabama. In 2006, he received his commercial truck driving certificate from South Georgia Technical College of Americus, Ga. In June 2007, he received his driver education certification from Albany State University of Albany, Ga.

His career in the field of education and coaching reaches across his home state of Alabama and Georgia. He touched the lives of many young athletes, guiding them to become good sportsmen on the field and in everyday life. He left a mark of excellence in the schools and community of Tallassee, Ala.; Etowah County, Ala.; Coweta County, Ga.; Harris County, Ga.; Talbot County, Ga.; Kendrick High School, Columbus, Ga.; Terrell County, Ga.; and Webster County, Ga. At Fort Valley State University, he was the defensive coach coordinator for the Wildcats football team. In May 2006, he retired after 30 years of dedicated services from the Board of Education in Terrell County, Ga. In January 2007, he once again entered into the teaching and coaching profession at Webster County High School to teach driver's education and to implement a high school sports program.

His community activities included serving as the first black County Commissioner of Marion County District 1; served on the Board of Directors of West Central of Georgia; affiliated with Family Connection of Marion County; instrumental in organizing the Buena Vista Riders Motorcycle Club; Chartered Initial Member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Iota Theta Chapter; and a member of the Georgia Association of Educators.

Survivors include a beloved wife of 13 years, Debra Porter Graham, Buena Vista, Ga.; three loving children, Johnathan Graham (Ashley), Hinesville, Ga., Jona R. Graham, Montgomery, Ala., and Sgt. Jena Graham, Fort Benning, Ga.; four loving grandchildren, J'ona Graham, Kelvin Kendrick II, Trevell Graham and Quincy Graham; his loving father and stepmother, Nathan H. Graham (Sandra), Attalla, Ala.; two loving siblings, Michele Graham Bradford, Southside, Ala., and Celeste Graham, Birmingham, Ala.; father- and mother-in-law, Harrison Porter (Ida), Buena Vista, Ga.; a loving niece, Joycelyn Bradford, Southside, Ala.; an aunt and uncle, Helen Woods (Bill), Youngstown, Ohio; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Calvin Swan (Thelma), Newark, N.J., Mary Swan, Brooklyn, N.Y., Ann Germany (Anthony), Stone Mountain, Ga., Doris Caldwell (Willie), Decatur, Ga., Bobby Porter, Buena Vista, Ga., and Harrison Porter III (Linda), Cuthbert, Ga.; a special nephew and special niece, DeWayne and Jalandra Harris, Upatoi, Ga.; special sons, William Vincent Huff and DeMarco Mitchell; his special team, Central Hawks football team of Talbotton, Ga.; and a host of beloved cousins, other relatives and friends.