Leon Graham,

The union of Earnest Lee and Onilee Edwards Graham was blessed with a bouncing baby boy, their firstborn, Leon Eugene Graham, on October 14, 1940 in Bald Knob, Arkansas. He professed a hope in Christ at an early age and united with Pleasant Grove Baptist Church under Pastor M.E. Bracely. He was a member of the Youth Choir, Junior Usher Board, and began training as a Junior Deacon. He started his early education in Bald Knob and later attended the White County Training School in Searcy after consolidation. After graduating in 1959, he married Patricia Ann Rycraw and to this union five children were born: Leon, Jr., Tina, Kenny, James (Bimp), and Kammi. In 1976 George Smith was adopted by the family. Leon was employed by Wallace Baker Chevrolet in Beebe, Arkansas. He worked at Birdseye Foods/Land O'Frost from 1972 until he retired as a supervisor in 1991 due to medical reasons. While working for Birdseye, he attended Foothills Vo-Tech School and graduated as the 3rd ranked welder in the United States. Leon worked as an auxiliary policeman for the White County Sheriff Department. He joined the Bald Knob Jaycees and later was elected as vice-president. After rededicating his life to Christ, Leon became an active member of Pleasant Grove by serving on the Senior Usher Board, as an Armor Bearer, a member of the Men's "Tool Time" Ministry, and overseeing the kitchen ministry. Leon was preceded in death by Earnest Lee Graham (father), Onilee Graham (mother), Gloria Johnson Hoyle (sister), Carol Graham Jackson (sister), and Tina Louise Graham (daughter). He is survived by Patricia Ann Graham, his wife of 52 years, four sons: Leon Eugene Graham, Jr. (Melissa) of Bald Knob, AR, George Lowell Smith of Phoenix, AZ, Kenneth Lee Graham, Sr. (Tonya) of Little Rock, AR, James Anthony "Bimp" Graham (Pamela) of Searcy, AR, and two daughters, Kammi Elaine Graham Shannon (Kenneth, Jr.) of Springdale, AR, and Tammy Starks of Tulsa, OK, one sister, Viola Moore Smith (Roderick) of Bald Knob, AR, one adopted sister, Betty Lewis Miller of Horn Lake, MS, one sister-in-law Juanita Carmen Wilson (Dwight) of Little Rock, AR, brother-in-laws: Roosevelt Shelton, Sr. of Little Rock, AR, William Rycraw, Jr. of Kensett, AR, and James Jackson of Rock Hill, MO, twenty-four grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Special recognition to Faye Haynes Johnson, Tommie Shelton Johnson, Bernice Hudson, Patricia Brown, Norchelle Evans, Kim Dennis, Patricia Jackson, Ike Chester Watson, and Brad Shaver. Funeral services will be held at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Bald Knob on Tuesday, September 4, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Family hour will be at Powell Funeral Home in Bald Knob on Monday, September 3, 2012 from 6-8 p.m. Interment will follow in the Union Grove Cemetery by Powell Funeral Home, Bald Knob-Judsonia. www.powellfuneralhome.net.

Leon Graham,

October 14, 1940 - August 30, 2012