Dr. J "Donald" Graham

Dr. J "Donald" Graham, 93, of Havana, Illinois passed away on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Mason District Hospital. He was born on August 27, 1933, in Fort Benning, Georgia to the late Aileen and Ellis B Graham. He was preceded in death by his sister, Sarah Villa; Nancy Guilfoil Graham, his wife of 53 years and Frances Crawford. Don graduated from the University of Georgia in 1955 and completed his Bachelor's and Master's in Divinity and his Doctorate in Ministry from the Lexington Theological Seminary. Don began preaching in 1952 during his student days at the University of Georgia and while at seminary. After seminary, he served a pastorate at the Memorial Christian Church (DOC) in Atlanta, Georgia. Following that he chose a dual-vocational ministry when he joined the faculty at Berea College serving as the Coordinator of Religious Activities. During this time, he became the minister of the Kirksville Christian Church (DOC) in 1962 serving in that capacity for 50 years. While continuing his ministry, Dr. Graham started a family business to promote Appalachian arts and crafts that continued for some 39 years. As a resident of Berea, Dr. Graham was active in the leadership of many local organizations including the Berea Chamber of Commerce, Berea Ministerial Association, The Mountain Maternal Health League, Berea Association of Congregations, District Friends of Kentucky Educational Television (KET), Madison County Tomorrow, and Project Read. Dr. Graham also ran for several political offices, the highest being as an Independent Peace and Civil Rights candidate for Congress in 1968. Throughout his years in Berea, Dr. Graham coined sayings that students, faculty, friends, and patrons of his local business found amusing and inspirational. He made these sayings available in a variety of ways, including bookmarks, which he sold in his shop. Many customers suggested he put them in a book, and in 2016, Graham-isms: Thoughts That Almost Crossed My Mind, his first book, captured this collection for random reading. Following his ministry in Kentucky, Dr. Graham took his love of service to the state of Illinois where he served as the pastor at the Central Christian Church in Havana, Illinois for 8 years. While in Havana, he served as an active member of the Havana Christian Ministerial Association. With his southern roots and gentlemanly ways, Don was beloved by all who knew him. Don is survived by his wife, Pam, his daughter Suzanne (Greg) Gerard of Richmond, two grandchildren, Ben Robinson IV (Chloe) and Graham Robinson and one great grandchild, Beau Robinson. A public visitation will be held Wednesday, September 16th from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at the Central Christian Church with the funeral to follow from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Don's honor to the Central Christian Church in Havana, Illinois and the Kirksville Christian Church in Richmond, Kentucky.

Dr. J "Donald" Graham

August 27, 1933 - September 12, 2026

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