Rosa E. Graham

Graham

Rosa Elnora Graham, aged 93, died peacefully on Friday, November 28. 2014, at her home in Midlothian, after a long struggle with Osteoporosis. She was born the daughter of the late Benjamin and Alice York-Jefferson on March 1, 1921. She married the late Robert P. Graham; and had seven children. Rosa enjoyed the outdoors gardening and building. She learned to use a hammer and nail at the early age of 19, when she help construct the home she resided in for over 70 years. She continued to enjoy building and construction throughout her life. At the age of 75, she constructed her master piece when she built a double car garage, with a two bedroom apartment above. She was interviewed by the Richmond Times Dispatch for her accomplishment and later told her story on CNN. Rosa was preceded in death by her husband, Robert P. Graham; two daughters, Alice Graham-Miller and Brenda L. Bassett; son-in-law, Clarence H. Bassett Jr., two brothers, Edward Jefferson Sr. and Jessie Jefferson Sr.; three sisters, Victoria Bowie, Elise Reece Parker and Bernice Brown. She is survived by four sons, James, Robert, Richard and Ronald; one daughter, Marilyn; one sister-in-law, four daughters-in-law, 14 grandchildren, 17 great- grandchildren, one great- great-granddaughter and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Public viewing will be Wednesday, December 3, 2014, 6 to 7 p.m., at Mimms Funeral Home, 1827 Hull Street, Richmond, Va. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 4, 2014, at 1 p.m. at Midlothian First Baptist Church at 13800 Westfield Drive, Midlothian, Va., with the Rev. Marvin J. Mitchell officiating. A graveside service will be conducted immediately following services at Midlothian First Baptist Church Cemetery in Midlothian, Va. In lieu of flowers, memorial donation can be made in her name to the Lupus Foundation.