Joann Graham

On  January 4, 2023 our beloved, mother, grandmother and sister Joann Graham entered into eternal rest at Caton Park Nursing Home in Brooklyn, New York. She was born in Robeson County on June 12, 1952.  Her parents were both the late Roosevelt Graham and Hazel Lee Smith Graham Bell.   Joann was born and raised in Robeson County and attended the Robeson County public schools.  After school she moved to Philadelphia, PA and lived and worked for twenty years. She found employment that she was satisfied with in the housekeeping section of some of the finer hotels.  She enjoyed making things right for the customers and making them happy.

After working and living in Philly she came back to Lumberton to be near her family.  Joann was a strong woman and always a good provided for her family. She was known for entertaining family, cooking and spending time with the grandchildren.  Joann was family oriented and liked to joke and have fun.  Joann accepted Christ at an early age and held on to her faith until her change came.  She loved listening to gospel music and especially enjoyed the artist Tamela Mann and also quartet singers like Lee Williams and Ranch Allen.

Joann began to experience declining health, but did not complain.  She lived a beautiful life and was a loving sister, mother and grandmother. 

Joann was preceded in death by her parents, her stepfather John Bell, daughter Hazel Graham and brothers Roosevelt Graham Jr. , Horace Graham , Henry Graham, and Robert Graham, John Willie Bell, and one sister Mary Frances Suggs.

She is survived by one son, Freddy Graham (Jasmin) of Brooklyn, New York , two daughters Tonya Graham-Rowell (Anthony) of Red Springs, NC,  and LaShawnda Graham of Lumberton, NC; Eight grandchildren; Sierra, James, Kadijah (Jeff) , America, Perry, Sincere, Alani, and Jabari; eleven Great-grandchildren.. Five brothers: Charles Graham of Fairmont, John Bell and James Bell both of Lumberton, NC, John Wesley Graham of Bell Glaze, Florida, and James William Graham of Philadelphia Pennsylvania; Seven sisters: Frances Suggs, Loisteen Sinclair, Virginia Jones, Dianne Hickman, Denise Bell, and Carolyn Striblin all of Lumberton, NC., and Mildred Carter of Fayetteville, NC. And a host of nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.

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