Joseph Henry Graham

View Video Tribute Joseph Henry Graham, 89, retired employee of Monsanto and former longtime resident of Parkway Avenue, died Monday, August 31, 2015 at Poplar Estates where he had made his home for the past few months. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Pastor Tracy Nelson, Pastor Lane Reuter, and Pastor David Callies officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 4:00 - 7:00 P.M. and Thursday from 1:00 - 2:00 P.M. at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to Lutheran Layman's League or Lutheran Women's Missionary League c/o Our Savior Lutheran Church, 5110 Franklin Pike, Nashville, TN 37220-1814. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. The Maury County native was the son of the late Al Graham and Annie Elizabeth Barrick Graham. On August 17, 1946 he married the former Jean Potts and they celebrated sixty-nine years of marriage. Mr. Graham was a 1944 graduate of Columbia Military Academy and served in the U.S. Army/Air Corps during World War II. He returned to Columbia and in 1951 began his thirty-five year career with Monsanto until his retirement in 1986. He was a 31 year member of Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19, former member of Columbia RC Flying Club, former member of Columbia YMCA, former member of the Columbia Civil Air Patrol where he was in charge of the cadets, very active with the Maury County CB Club. Always one for adventure, he received his pilot's license in 1948, also enjoyed riding motorcycles, and was a former member of Tennessee Road Riders. An avid outdoorsman, Mr. Graham enjoyed camping, hunting, and fishing. He received much joy with his coffee drinking buddies at Hardee's; and since the 1980's he and his wife enjoyed dining at Captain D's every Tuesday. Mr. Graham was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Brentwood. In addition to his wife, he is survived by daughter, Sandra Jo Graham (Larry) Gean of Columbia; son, David Eugene (Sherry) Graham of Mt Juliet; daughter-in-law, Barbara Jean "Jeannie" Whitehead Graham of Columbia; grandchildren, Tracy McGlocklin, Joseph Walker (Tammy) Gean, Michael Shawn (Tonya) Gean, Heather Michelle Gean (Dean) Harvill, all of Columbia; great grandchildren, Laura Lyndsay Gean of Denver, Colorado; Brianna McGlocklin, Sesaly Gean, Nathan Harvill, Bethany Gean, Jessica Harvill, all of Columbia; niece, Gwen (Gary) Bailey of Columbia; and nephew, Leo "Clint" Graham, Jr. of San Antonio, Texas. He was preceded in death by son, James Richard "Ricky" Graham; brother, Leo Clinton Graham, Sr., and sister, Katherine Graham Smith. Active pallbearers will be Joseph Walker Gean, Michael Shawn Gean, Dean Harvill, Nathan Harvill, Larry Walker Gean, and Gary Bailey. Honorary pallbearers will include retired employees of Monsanto, former members of Columbia RC Flying Club, Tennessee Road Riders, employees of Poplar Estates, Dr. Douglas Kennedy and staff. The family would like to express a special thank you to Hospice Compassus for their loving care and support.