Obituary for Lillie M. "Muh" Graham (Hagans)
Her Story
Mother Lillie Hagans Graham
“Muh”
Mother Lillie Graham was born in the Red Clay Hills of Parrott (Terrell County), Georgia September 17, 1929, to the late Deacon Raymond Hagans and the Late Ida Perry Hagans.
She attended Helen Gurr Elementary and Junior High Schools, Parrott, Georgia. She was a graduate of George Washington Carver High School, Dawson, Georgia. Her athletic skills afforded her to be hailed as one of the basketball team’s star players.
Lillie always had a passion for driving. She was her father’s right hand. She was always ready to assist him in whatever she could on the farm by driving tractors and pickup truck when needed. She was the farm’s bookkeeper.
On Saturday evenings during the summer months, she would load up the pickup truck and transport truckloads of young people to the “Segregated Swimming Pool” in Dawson to this date, many still remember those days. On Sunday’s she was headed to Sunday school, Worship Service and Sunday Evening Baptist Training Union (BTU). She was known by many to be the first black girl in a small rural country town to own a new blue and white 1957 Bel Air Chevrolet. Her father purchased this classic automobile for his baby girl.
Lillie’s early spiritual foundation (instilled by her parents), was reinforced at the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church (Parrott, GA). She was one in the first group to be baptized by the late Rev. J. E. Brown, in the church’s first indoor baptismal pool. She served as secretary of the Sunday School, Choir Ministry, Mission Ministry and Program Committee.
She met the apple of her eye and was united in Holy Matrimony to the late Henry Graham and moved to White Plains, New York. Her life in White Plains was well spent as a self-sacrificing caregiver to one and all.
Keeping the Church’s Covenant, Mother Lillie Graham united with Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, where she served in many capacities: General Mission President, Jail Ministry, Culinary Ministry, active in Sunday School and all functioning ministries of the church (Except the Deacon’s, Trustee, Security, and Pastoral Ministries…She just covered them in prayer). She served under the leadership of six pastors. My God, how she loved Past – Emeritus Lester Cousin, Current Pastor, Pastor Lee Trollinger, and Her Deacon-Craig Woodward.
Her service to the community was inclusive of: White Plains Housing Authority, Founder of the Winbrook Housing Association, Founder of the Winbrook’s Senior Citizen’s Founders Day, and Sponsor of the Annual Cherry Blossom Festival Community Trip for the children to travel to Washington, DC.
Indeed, she was A Virtuous Woman of Strength and Power who was a fearless fighter and a pillar of strength to her family, community and Church Being the selfless strong woman she was, she was always a proponent of those down-on-their-luck, helping out the homeless and downtrodden whenever she could, with words and/or deeds .
She peacefully transitioned into eternal rest Friday, May 27, 2022, at White Plains Hospital, White Plains, New York. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Faye Watson; brothers: John Wesley Hagans, and General Hagans; and step daughter, Viola Stanford.
She was a mother figure to not only her biological children, but to others as well.
Her legacy and memories will continue through her faithful grandson and caregiver, Darrell Watson, White Plains, NY; Daughters: Carolyn (Deacon Bennie) Williams, Dawson, Georgia, and Ida Stewart, White Plains, NY; Grandchildren: Imani Stewart, Richmond, Virginia, and Natasha Fequiere, White Plains, NY; Great Grandchildren: Karsyn Fequiere, Jackson Fequiere, Karl Patterson, All of White Plains, NY; Cousin Reared as a brother: Walter (Travis) Perry; Cousin/Son, Dr. Osie (Dr. Grace) White, Atlanta, GA; Special Goddaughter/Friend, Deacon Gertrude Coleman and Tiffany of White Plains, NY; Lifelong Childhood Friend, Mother Janie M. Hall, Parrott, GA; and a host of other caring family and friends.
“Trust In The Lord With All Your Heart. Lean Not To Thine Own Understanding. And, In All Thy Ways Acknowledge Him… He Shall Direct Your Path.”
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ATTENTION: During the continuing COVID-19 crisis, as it phases back into small capacity public visitations/services, we need your help in limiting and controlling the number of people inside the church, so please govern yourself accordingly for the health & safety of all. Thank you so kindly!
A Visitation/Wake Service will be held on Mon. 6/6 from 11:00AM-1:00PM, though viewing will pause around 12:00PM for speaking & readings, with social-distanced seating due to COVID restrictions. But the church will be live-streaming the service on ZOOM, also available on our website, the day of the service where it says WATCH WEBCAST, so you're able to view there/here also/instead. So you may come to the church to try to attend, with your masks on. At the very least you can get hand sanitizer & sign the register book (NOTE: please feel free to bring your own pen). If not at capacity, you will be allowed in to have a seat; but if at capacity by the time you get there, you may be required to leave the premises after signing register book, so as not to be in violation nor cause a health hazard, so please govern yourself accordingly. Regardless of if you're able to enter/be seated, or not, please refrain from touching/hugging/handshaking, ONLY elbow bumping briefly if at all. If instructed, PLEASE KINDLY RESPECTFULLY leave the building & premises if the church is at their capacity. PLEASE KINDLY RESPECTFULLY follow & abide by the directions of the funeral home staff and/or church or cemetery personnel at all times. We Thank You in advance for following directions & policies, so as to make all go smoothly the day of the services, to eliminate further burden on the family, and to maintain the health & safety of All. Any questions, or if any clarity is needed, please call ahead to the funeral home and/or church, and/or speak to us from a safe distance if present.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Entire Staff of Lee's Funeral Home, LLC respects that Lillie Graham & family entrusted her care & the care of their loved one to us, and that they value the level of service & attention our funeral home provides. We are honored, in turn, to provide comfort, assistance and service to the Family of Lillie Graham during their time of bereavement.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please leave written condolences now herein on the Memory Wall to express your sorrow, share your memories, and as an expression of sympathy & way to communicate with/offer comfort to the family, that they and others may see, and may be a lasting tribute in her honor, whether you're able to attend or not. Definitely Please SIGN IN on the Memory Wall as a virtual way of signing the register book, especially if choosing to stay safe/not able to sign in person.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Lieu of flowers, the family kindly appreciates contributions be made in her name/memory/honor to the Missionary Ministry of Calvary Baptist Church (see church address information under Service Details). As a lasting tribute, you may also choose to plant a tree, and/or a contribution may be made in her name/memory/honor as indicated above. If sending flowers despite family request, and because final services & burial will be in GA, any flowers should be sent to GA to Albritten's Funeral Services, 395 Cedar Hill Ave. SE, Dawson, GA 39842, #229-995-5895. The Family Thanks You!
Mother Lillie Hagans Graham
“Muh”
Mother Lillie Graham was born in the Red Clay Hills of Parrott (Terrell County), Georgia September 17, 1929, to the late Deacon Raymond Hagans and the Late Ida Perry Hagans.
She attended Helen Gurr Elementary and Junior High Schools, Parrott, Georgia. She was a graduate of George Washington Carver High School, Dawson, Georgia. Her athletic skills afforded her to be hailed as one of the basketball team’s star players.
Lillie always had a passion for driving. She was her father’s right hand. She was always ready to assist him in whatever she could on the farm by driving tractors and pickup truck when needed. She was the farm’s bookkeeper.
On Saturday evenings during the summer months, she would load up the pickup truck and transport truckloads of young people to the “Segregated Swimming Pool” in Dawson to this date, many still remember those days. On Sunday’s she was headed to Sunday school, Worship Service and Sunday Evening Baptist Training Union (BTU). She was known by many to be the first black girl in a small rural country town to own a new blue and white 1957 Bel Air Chevrolet. Her father purchased this classic automobile for his baby girl.
Lillie’s early spiritual foundation (instilled by her parents), was reinforced at the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church (Parrott, GA). She was one in the first group to be baptized by the late Rev. J. E. Brown, in the church’s first indoor baptismal pool. She served as secretary of the Sunday School, Choir Ministry, Mission Ministry and Program Committee.
She met the apple of her eye and was united in Holy Matrimony to the late Henry Graham and moved to White Plains, New York. Her life in White Plains was well spent as a self-sacrificing caregiver to one and all.
Keeping the Church’s Covenant, Mother Lillie Graham united with Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, where she served in many capacities: General Mission President, Jail Ministry, Culinary Ministry, active in Sunday School and all functioning ministries of the church (Except the Deacon’s, Trustee, Security, and Pastoral Ministries…She just covered them in prayer). She served under the leadership of six pastors. My God, how she loved Past – Emeritus Lester Cousin, Current Pastor, Pastor Lee Trollinger, and Her Deacon-Craig Woodward.
Her service to the community was inclusive of: White Plains Housing Authority, Founder of the Winbrook Housing Association, Founder of the Winbrook’s Senior Citizen’s Founders Day, and Sponsor of the Annual Cherry Blossom Festival Community Trip for the children to travel to Washington, DC.
Indeed, she was A Virtuous Woman of Strength and Power who was a fearless fighter and a pillar of strength to her family, community and Church Being the selfless strong woman she was, she was always a proponent of those down-on-their-luck, helping out the homeless and downtrodden whenever she could, with words and/or deeds .
She peacefully transitioned into eternal rest Friday, May 27, 2022, at White Plains Hospital, White Plains, New York. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Faye Watson; brothers: John Wesley Hagans, and General Hagans; and step daughter, Viola Stanford.
She was a mother figure to not only her biological children, but to others as well.
Her legacy and memories will continue through her faithful grandson and caregiver, Darrell Watson, White Plains, NY; Daughters: Carolyn (Deacon Bennie) Williams, Dawson, Georgia, and Ida Stewart, White Plains, NY; Grandchildren: Imani Stewart, Richmond, Virginia, and Natasha Fequiere, White Plains, NY; Great Grandchildren: Karsyn Fequiere, Jackson Fequiere, Karl Patterson, All of White Plains, NY; Cousin Reared as a brother: Walter (Travis) Perry; Cousin/Son, Dr. Osie (Dr. Grace) White, Atlanta, GA; Special Goddaughter/Friend, Deacon Gertrude Coleman and Tiffany of White Plains, NY; Lifelong Childhood Friend, Mother Janie M. Hall, Parrott, GA; and a host of other caring family and friends.
“Trust In The Lord With All Your Heart. Lean Not To Thine Own Understanding. And, In All Thy Ways Acknowledge Him… He Shall Direct Your Path.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ATTENTION: During the continuing COVID-19 crisis, as it phases back into small capacity public visitations/services, we need your help in limiting and controlling the number of people inside the church, so please govern yourself accordingly for the health & safety of all. Thank you so kindly!
A Visitation/Wake Service will be held on Mon. 6/6 from 11:00AM-1:00PM, though viewing will pause around 12:00PM for speaking & readings, with social-distanced seating due to COVID restrictions. But the church will be live-streaming the service on ZOOM, also available on our website, the day of the service where it says WATCH WEBCAST, so you're able to view there/here also/instead. So you may come to the church to try to attend, with your masks on. At the very least you can get hand sanitizer & sign the register book (NOTE: please feel free to bring your own pen). If not at capacity, you will be allowed in to have a seat; but if at capacity by the time you get there, you may be required to leave the premises after signing register book, so as not to be in violation nor cause a health hazard, so please govern yourself accordingly. Regardless of if you're able to enter/be seated, or not, please refrain from touching/hugging/handshaking, ONLY elbow bumping briefly if at all. If instructed, PLEASE KINDLY RESPECTFULLY leave the building & premises if the church is at their capacity. PLEASE KINDLY RESPECTFULLY follow & abide by the directions of the funeral home staff and/or church or cemetery personnel at all times. We Thank You in advance for following directions & policies, so as to make all go smoothly the day of the services, to eliminate further burden on the family, and to maintain the health & safety of All. Any questions, or if any clarity is needed, please call ahead to the funeral home and/or church, and/or speak to us from a safe distance if present.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Entire Staff of Lee's Funeral Home, LLC respects that Lillie Graham & family entrusted her care & the care of their loved one to us, and that they value the level of service & attention our funeral home provides. We are honored, in turn, to provide comfort, assistance and service to the Family of Lillie Graham during their time of bereavement.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please leave written condolences now herein on the Memory Wall to express your sorrow, share your memories, and as an expression of sympathy & way to communicate with/offer comfort to the family, that they and others may see, and may be a lasting tribute in her honor, whether you're able to attend or not. Definitely Please SIGN IN on the Memory Wall as a virtual way of signing the register book, especially if choosing to stay safe/not able to sign in person.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Lieu of flowers, the family kindly appreciates contributions be made in her name/memory/honor to the Missionary Ministry of Calvary Baptist Church (see church address information under Service Details). As a lasting tribute, you may also choose to plant a tree, and/or a contribution may be made in her name/memory/honor as indicated above. If sending flowers despite family request, and because final services & burial will be in GA, any flowers should be sent to GA to Albritten's Funeral Services, 395 Cedar Hill Ave. SE, Dawson, GA 39842, #229-995-5895. The Family Thanks You!