Mary Frances Graham's Obituary
Funeral services for Mary Frances Graham, 89, of Leesville will be held on Saturday, June 25, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Leesville with the Rev. Landon Dowden and Rev. Jerry Penefield officiating. Burial will follow in the Castor Cemetery in Leesville under the direction of Labby Memorial Funeral Home of Leesville. Visitation will be held on Friday, June 24, 2011 from 5 pm until 10 pm at the funeral home.
Mary graduated from Leesville High School in 1938 and then attended Chenier Business College in Beaumont, Texas. In 1943 she married John Mensing and together they had two daughters Barbara Dowden of Baton Rouge and Karen Larche of Leesville. She and John divorced in 1954. She then married Joe Graham from Pickering in 1964, and he died in 1972. He had two daughters Juanice Williams and Judy Legg Kirkpatrick. In 1950, she went to work at the Vernon Bank in Leesville as a bookkeeper and through hard work and dedication was named Assistant Vice President until her retirement in 1987. She was a long time member of the First Baptist Church of Leesville where she originally joined as a child and then returned in September 21, 1952. She served faithfully many years as Sunday School Secretary and serving wherever needed. She was also a member of the Eastern Star. Her love for God, family and church was evident in the way she lived her life.
She was preceded in death by her husband; Joe Graham, mother and father, George and Molly Bell Craft, sister, Irene Deacon and brother, Ira Craft and step child, Juanice Williams.
She is Survived by her children, Barbara Dowden of Baton Rouge, Karen and Lanny Larche of Leesville ,Judy Legg Kirkpatrick of Magnolia, AR; Sisters; Stella Bradham and Robbie Neff both of Leesville, LA; grandchildren, Larilyn Dowden of Baton
Rouge, Landon and Tara Dowden of Baton Rouge, Lana and Stirling Popejoy of Parker Colorado, Landry Larche of Lake Charles, Scott Legg of Camden, Arkansas, and Tammie and Mike Benoit of Holly Springs, Mississippi; great grandchildren, Leili Popejoy, Arabella Dowden, Adalaide Dowden & Adoniram Dowden and a host of nieces and nephews.
What’s your fondest memory of Mary?
What’s a lesson you learned from Mary?
Share a story where Mary's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Mary you’ll never forget.
How did Mary make you smile?