Service
Mrs. Graves will be laid to rest Saturday, November 12, 2016 at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 247 Mount Zion Church Road, Prentiss, MS. Her services will begin at 11:00 a.m. Committal will be at Mount Zion Church Cemetery in Prentiss, MS . Visitation will be on Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Willis and Sons Funeral Home, 5235 Robinson Road Ext, Jackson, MS.
Obituary
Missionary Lorean Graves was born to Fred and Thelma White on May 13, 1931 in Prentiss, Mississippi. She was the eldest of eight children. Lorean's husband Evyless, parents, two sisters Alice and Geraldine, and three brothers Fred, Jr., Charles and Fred Edward, all preceded her in death.
Lorean took the responsibility of being the oldest very seriously. She had no problem asserting herself as the second mother when her mother and father were not home. Her role as the oldest in the house took on a greater meaning when her mother's sister, Marie Jane Magee died at an early age and many of Marie Jane's children had to come live with Lorean's family. This role as the "big sister"/"second mother" became all so real--but that experience helped mold her to the great mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother she became.
Lorean was united in holy matrimony to Evyless Graves in 1946. This union was blessed with eight children. Lorean and Evyless moved to Detroit, Michigan around 1950, and raised their 8 children in the fear of the Lord. Lorean joined the Glorious Church of God under the leadership of Elder and Sister Eugene Hogan. It was here she tarried and revived the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Sister Graves served the church with her whole heart, body and soul. She came through the ranks of the church as an usher, secretary, bible and Sunday school teacher, choir member, and any other auxiliary which needed her help. It was Sister Graves' ultimate acceptance into the ministry that pronounced her true calling of God in her life. She became the Missionary President of the Northern District of the Church of God Apostolic, Inc. After 50 years in Detroit and working in the church she and her husband, Deacon Evyless Graves, after much contemplation and prayers, decided to move back to their birthplace, Prentiss, Mississippi in 1996.
Missionary Lorean Graves didn't meet many strangers--who could, with the 'BIG" smile? She had a jubilant spirit, a lighthearted mannerism, and a charismatic personality who met and had very many friends, in and out of the church. Missionary Graves was an exceptional cook and and an exquisite baker. Those chicken-n-dumplings! Those sweet potato pies! God knows nobody! Noooobody did it like Mama Graves!
Missionary Lorean Graves peacefully departed this life on Friday October 28, 2016. She leaves to cherish her memories eight children, Everless Graves, Minnie Ansley of Prentiss, Mississippi, Thelma Marshall (Jack) of Stow, Ohio, Patricia Wood (Willard), Larrol Graves, Carrol Waler-Magee of Prentiss, Mississippi, George Graves and Timothy Graves (Veola); 17 grandchildren; 33 great grandchildren; 4 great-great grandchildren; one brother, George White of Prentiss, Mississippi; two sisters, Lois Walker of Prentiss Mississippi and Ann Blount of Chicago, Illinois; one godson, Paul W. Magee; and host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, the Mt. Zion Church in Prentiss, Mississippi, and the Glorious Church of God, Apostolic family.
Lorean took the responsibility of being the oldest very seriously. She had no problem asserting herself as the second mother when her mother and father were not home. Her role as the oldest in the house took on a greater meaning when her mother's sister, Marie Jane Magee died at an early age and many of Marie Jane's children had to come live with Lorean's family. This role as the "big sister"/"second mother" became all so real--but that experience helped mold her to the great mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother she became.
Lorean was united in holy matrimony to Evyless Graves in 1946. This union was blessed with eight children. Lorean and Evyless moved to Detroit, Michigan around 1950, and raised their 8 children in the fear of the Lord. Lorean joined the Glorious Church of God under the leadership of Elder and Sister Eugene Hogan. It was here she tarried and revived the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Sister Graves served the church with her whole heart, body and soul. She came through the ranks of the church as an usher, secretary, bible and Sunday school teacher, choir member, and any other auxiliary which needed her help. It was Sister Graves' ultimate acceptance into the ministry that pronounced her true calling of God in her life. She became the Missionary President of the Northern District of the Church of God Apostolic, Inc. After 50 years in Detroit and working in the church she and her husband, Deacon Evyless Graves, after much contemplation and prayers, decided to move back to their birthplace, Prentiss, Mississippi in 1996.
Missionary Lorean Graves didn't meet many strangers--who could, with the 'BIG" smile? She had a jubilant spirit, a lighthearted mannerism, and a charismatic personality who met and had very many friends, in and out of the church. Missionary Graves was an exceptional cook and and an exquisite baker. Those chicken-n-dumplings! Those sweet potato pies! God knows nobody! Noooobody did it like Mama Graves!
Missionary Lorean Graves peacefully departed this life on Friday October 28, 2016. She leaves to cherish her memories eight children, Everless Graves, Minnie Ansley of Prentiss, Mississippi, Thelma Marshall (Jack) of Stow, Ohio, Patricia Wood (Willard), Larrol Graves, Carrol Waler-Magee of Prentiss, Mississippi, George Graves and Timothy Graves (Veola); 17 grandchildren; 33 great grandchildren; 4 great-great grandchildren; one brother, George White of Prentiss, Mississippi; two sisters, Lois Walker of Prentiss Mississippi and Ann Blount of Chicago, Illinois; one godson, Paul W. Magee; and host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, the Mt. Zion Church in Prentiss, Mississippi, and the Glorious Church of God, Apostolic family.