Coach ronald graham

Ronald Dra Graham, age 53, of Buena Vista, Georgia passed Saturday, December 1, 2007 at
Vistacare Center, Columbus, Georgia.

Funeral services were conducted 2:30 p.m., Saturday, December 8, 2007 at the Josh B.
Gibson Center, Rogers Street, Buena Vista, Georgia. Interment followed in the Mount Olive
Baptist Church Cemetery, Moody Rd., Tazewell, Georgia.

Ronald was born November 28, 1954 in Gadsden, Etowah County, Alabama to Nathan H.
Graham and the late Joyce Adair Graham. He was united in holy matrimony to the former
Debra Porter on May 21, 1994.

He was a 1972 graduate of Etowah High School, where he was an outstanding football
player wearing number 77. He was a 1976 graduate of Livingston University where he
acquired his B. S. Degree in Education. As a football player at Livingston University, he was
lettered and once again he was blessed to wear "77" on the football field. In 1996 and
1998, he received his Master of Science (MS) Degree in Guidance and Counseling and
Education Specialist from Troy State University in Alabama. In 2006, he received his
Commercial Truck Driving Certificate from South Georgia Technical College of Americus,
Georgia. In June of 2007, he received his Driver Education Certification from Albany State
University, Albany, Georgia.

His career in the field of education and coaching reaches across his home state of Alabama
and Georgia. He touched the lives of many young athletes, guiding them to become good
sportsmen on the field and in everyday life. He left a mark of excellence in the schools and
community of Tallassee, Alabama, Etowah County, Alabama, Coweta County, Georgia,
Harris County, Georgia, Talbot County, Georgia, Kendrick High School, Columbus, Georgia,
Terrell County, Georgia and Webster County, Georgia. At Fort Valley State University, he
was the defensive coach coordinator for the Wildcat Football Team. In May 2006, he retired
after 30 years of dedicated services from the Board of Education in Terrell County, Georgia.
In January 2007, he once again entered into the teaching and coaching profession at
Webster County High School to teach Drivers Education and to develop and enhance their
sports program.

His community activities included the following: serving as the first black County
Commissioner of Marion County, Georgia, affiliated with West Central of Georgia, affiliated
with Family Connection of Marion County, instrumental in organizing the Buena Vista
Motorcycle Club, Chartered Initial Member of the Kappa Alpha Psi - Iota Theta Chapter and
a member of the Georgia Association of Educators.

Survivors include a beloved wife of 13 years, Debra Porter Graham, Buena Vista, Georgia;
three loving children, Johnathan Graham (Ashley), Hinesville, Georgia, Jona R. Graham,
Montgomery, Alabama and Sgt. Jena Graham, Ft. Benning, Georgia; four loving
grandchildren, J'ona Graham, Kelvin Kendrick, II, Trevell Graham and Quincy Graham; loving
father / stepmother, Nathan H. Graham (Sandra), Attalla, Alabama; two devoted siblings,
Michele Graham Bradford, Southside, Alabama and Celeste Graham, Birmingham, Alabama;
father / mother-in-law, Harrison Porter (Ida), Buena Vista, Georgia; a loving niece,
Joycelyn Bradford, Southside, Alabama; an aunt / uncle, Helen Woods (Bill), Youngstown,
Ohio; brothers-in-law / sisters-in-law, Calvin Swan (Thelma), Newark, New Jersey, Mary
Swan, Brooklyn, New York, Ann Germany (Anthony), Stone Mountain, Georgia, Doris
Caldwell (Wilile), Decatur, Georgia, Bobby Porter, Buena Vista, Georgia and Harrison Porter,
III (Linda), Cuthbert, Georgia; a special nephew, DeWayne Harris and a special niece,
Jalandra Harris. His special sons include, William Vincent Huff, DeMarco Mitchell and his
special team Central Hawks Football Team of Talbotton; a host of beloved cousins, other
relatives and friends.

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