Cover photo for Dennis Graham's Obituary
1938 Dennis 2022

Dennis Graham

November 22, 1938 — December 23, 2022

Dennis Graham, 84, of Paris, TN, went to live with his Heavenly Father on December 23, 2022.  He was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather, a respected artist and craftsman, and a devoted Christian.

Roy Dennis Graham was born November 22, 1938, in Henry Country, TN.  He grew up in a close-knit family and as a youngster developed lifelong interests in hunting, woodworking, and folklore.  A 1957 graduate of Henry High School, Dennis enlisted in the United States Navy and served in several domestic billets training Navy helicopter crews.

Dennis married the love of his life, Carol Gream, on November 6, 1965.  Dennis and Carol raised their family in Paris, where Dennis coached his children’s soccer, baseball, and basketball teams.  Dennis spent his professional career with the L&N (later CSX) railroad where he was a long-time conductor, retiring in 2001.  A respected leader in his industry, Dennis served as Local Chairman of the United Transportation Union.

Dennis’s time after retirement was dedicated to travel and adventure with his family and pursuing his passions for woodcarving and folk art.  Dennis served on the Board of Paris Academy of the Arts and delighted in sharing his carvings and walking sticks with family and friends.

A long-time deacon at West Paris Baptist Church, Dennis was a current member of First Baptist Church of Paris.  Throughout his life he began every day with personal Bible study at dawn.

He is survived by Carol Graham, his wife of fifty-seven years; his children, Deana (Derek) Jones of Paris, Shannon (Ed Peterson) Graham of Atlanta, GA, and Josh (Heather) Graham of Charleston, SC; his grandchildren, Tucker Jones, Ben Jones, Genevieve Peterson, William Peterson, Peyton Graham and Lorelei Graham; and siblings, Dorothy (Baker) Kendall of Springville, TN, and Kenneth (Jaimi) Graham of Hollow Rock, TN.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Rebecca Graham; and his brother Roger Graham.

Visitation will be Tuesday, December 27, 2022, from 5:00 pm – 7:00 p.m. at Ridgeway Funeral Home, and continue Wednesday, December 28, 2022, from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm at Shiloh United Methodist Church, 350 Shiloh Church Road, Mansfield, TN 38236.  The funeral service will be Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at 2:00 pm at Shiloh United Methodist Church, where he and Carol were married fifty-seven years ago.

Named as pallbearers are Tucker Jones, Ben Jones, Ed Peterson, Derek Jones, Kris Vanvolkinburg, and Will Peterson.  “Hobbs” his cat is an honorary pallbearer.

Burial will follow in Shiloh Church Cemetery.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, friends donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or at www.stjude.org

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dennis Graham, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)

Ridgeway Funeral Home

201 Dunlap St, Paris, TN 38242

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Visitation

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

12:00 - 2:00 pm (Central time)

Shiloh Methodist Church (Ridgeway Funeral Home, Mansfield)

TN

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Funeral Service

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Starts at 2:00 pm (Central time)

Shiloh Methodist Church (Ridgeway Funeral Home, Mansfield)

TN

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Guestbook

Visits: 380

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree