Sandra "Sandy" Morris Graham

Sandra "Sandy" Louise Graham, affectionately known by her grandchildren as "Grahammy", 79, of Denver, North Carolina peacefully passed away surrounded by loved ones on October 12, 2025.

Sandy’s grandmother Mary Margaret, grandfather Walter Freese, mother Verna Mae Morris, father Robert Pearl Morris, brother Gary Morris and Aunt Pattie Morris preceded her in death.

Sandy is survived by her husband, Wilfred Allen Graham, oldest son, Kevin Allen Graham and his identical twin daughters, Madeleine (Madie) Rose Graham and Josephine (Josie) Kate Graham; youngest son, Jody Drake Graham, wife Miranda Graham, and two children, Amelie (Millie) Christine Graham and Remy Allen Graham (“Her favorite grandson” as the remaining Graham boy to carry on the family name).

Sandy grew up in Wheeling, West Virginia, a blue collar city chock-full of grit, spirit, and community.

Whip-smart and full of fire, Sandy earned high marks in school and played sports with the boys, taking after her Uncle Gene Freese, a Major League Baseball player with the Pirates and Reds.

She shared a close bond with her little brother Gary, who tragically died in a car accident at 25. Days before her death, she fondly recalled little Gary sitting on their fence post, legs swinging, in a little cap adorned with collectible Cracker-Jack toys hand-sewn on by their mother. Together, almost every day, they walked over to the home of their beloved grandma Mary Margaret for lunch. Grandma played a large role in Sandy’s life, just as Sandy would decades later with her own treasured grandchildren.

Sandy grew up with some powerful love in her childhood, but nothing came close to the unconditional devotion she shared with her husband Wilfred Allen Graham.

A fateful night of dancing at Wheeling’s dive ‘Yacht Club’ sparked a lifelong romance. A lovestruck Allen dialed Sandy numerous times at the nursing school until she finally returned his calls. She met Allen’s entire family, all seven siblings, on only the second date. The rest is history.

Over 57 years of marriage, they raised two boys, a sheep dog named Baxter, and a Shih Zu named Rodney, AKA the Tazmanian Devil. Oh–and Chirpy the Chick, a surprise assignment hatched in elementary school brought home by their eldest, plus Sandy’s duck neighbors, Henry and Henrietta. Shenanigans abounded with the Grahams, but those are countless stories for another time. Somehow, Sandy and Allen joked, the boys managed to become successful career and family men: canny, sarcastic, orderly, and passionate just like their mother. Less parts sugar, more parts spice–the Graham recipe.

Josie, Madie, Remy, and Millie were raised in tandem by both their loving parents and, equally, their loving grandparents. They eagerly and with the utmost seriousness attended “Papa’s Scout Camp” during many summers, where Papa and Grahammy took them on road trips, encouraged their creativity through crafts, played countless hours of Scooby Doo on the television, and spent days at the mall. Grahammy always loved a shopping spree.

She never forgot her grandchildren's passions and phases. She saved their drawings, fished perfectionist Josie’s art out of the trash; showed up to countless graduations, games, performances, and art shows; cut out newspaper clippings of their favorite pop culture media; and mailed intentional gifts and Hallmark greeting cards. Papa’s Scout Camp will never be the same without her.

We will yearn to hear more of Sandy’s many stories. We will miss her so much and, already, feel her everywhere - Dr. Pepper, Hershey Kisses, and Downey’s potato chips. In knick-knacks and antiques, chickadees and chipmunks, Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” and old crime shows, to do lists, and organized receipts. In each of our faces, hearts, minds, and souls; she lives on forevermore.

No services are scheduled at this time.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions in Sandy's memory to the Oglebay Foundation, which supports a community park in their hometown of Wheeling, WV where Sandy and Allen spent many days together.

Love always, always my love,

Sandy’s progeny and legacy

“Country roads, take me home /

To the place I belong /

West Virginia, mountain mama /

Take me home, country roads . . .”

John Denver, “Take Me Home, Country Roads”

Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home & Cremation Services is caring for the Graham family. Condolences and memories may be shared online at www.kepnerfh.com