Mark Alan Graves

Mark Alan Graves, age 69, of Ellenboro, North Carolina, formerly of Corpus Christi, Texas, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 7, 2025 in Ellenboro, NC.
Born on November 15, 1955, in Dallas, Texas, Mark lived a long, winding, and often stubborn road through life - and he walked every bit of it entirely on his own terms.
Mark was the son of Dalton Woodrow and Edna Earle Graves, and brother to Vickie Glass (Husband -Larry Glass) of Perry, OH, and Dean Graves (Wife - Dorothy Graves) of Conroe, TX.
Mark's early life legacy lives vibrantly through his three children and grandchildren. Daniel Graves and his wife, Tiffany are blessed with three sons - Mason, Austin, and Lincoln. Joanna Szuluk and her husband, Billy cherish their daughter, Madison. Clayton Graves and his wife, Kristina are kept joyfully busy with four children: Callie, Hayden, Jaxon, and Haddie. He also had many nieces and nephews who knew him as a unique and memorable presence in the family.
In 2001, Mark found his way to North Carolina where he met Joanna Padgett of Ellenboro, NC. They married in 2003, and it was here that they forged a lasting bond until Joanna's passing in June 2020. Mark remained in North Carolina embracing the warmth of its communities and cultivating friendships that became the quiet cornerstone of his life's later chapters, a testament to the place and people he called home.
Mark is preceded in death by his parents, Dalton Woodrow and Edna Earle Graves; his wife, Joanna Padgett; and his grandson, Lincoln Graves.
Mark is survived by his sister Vickie Glass and husband, Larry; brother Dean Graves and wife, Dorothy; son Daniel Graves and wife, Tiffany; son Clayton Graves and wife, Kristina; daughter Joanna Szuluk and husband, Billy; 7 Grandchildren; 2 Nephews; and 2 Nieces.
A Memorial Service to honor the life of Mark Graves will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 2:00 pm at the Oak Grove United Methodist Church in Ellenboro, North Carolina. Friends, family, and all whose lives he touched are invited to gather in celebration of his remarkable journey and the enduring memories he leaves behind.
Following the service, Mark will be relocated to his home state of Texas for his final resting place. He will be laid to rest with his beloved parents, Dalton Woodrow and Edna Earle Graves, at Bethel Cemetery in Southern Franklin County, Texas, during a graveside ceremony on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at 10:00 am.
A supporter of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Mark's compassionate spirit lives on through his contributions. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to St. Jude’s in his honor, ensuring his legacy of generosity continues to uplift those in need.
Oak Grove United Methodist Church : 1507 Oak Grove Church Rd, Ellenboro, NC 28040
Bethel Cemetery : CR 4350, Off FM 1448, Southern Franklin County, TX 75480.
Eggers Funeral Home of Cliffside, NC is serving the family