Obituary of Tae E. Graham

Tae Elizabeth Smith Graham, wife of Raymond Lee Graham Jr., died Thursday, May 19, 2016, at her home. Mrs. Graham was born at the Houff-Smith homeplace near Staunton, Virginia to the late Joseph Albright Smith and Ruth Virginia Clark Smith on December 21, 1940. She graduated from Wilson Memorial High School and Madison College (James Madison University) with a degree in Music Education with a voice major and piano minor. She was the president and soloist of the Concert Choir and voted the most musical and happiest in her class. She was a member of the Alpha Sigma Tau sorority. Tae taught school in Virginia, Wyoming and at Lemira Elementary School in Sumter and did graduate work at USC. In high school, she was elected Student Body president, attended Girls State, received the Rotary Club Code of Ethics award, was Co-head Cheerleader and was #1 seed on the tennis team and the Junior Tennis Champion for the City of Staunton. She was active in 4-H club work, was selected to attend National 4-H Conference in Washington, DC, National 4-H Congress in Chicago and Camp Minnewanca in Michigan. She served as Virginia’s 4-H President at the Annual state Short Course, and was inducted into the Virginia 4-H All Stars. In Sumter, she was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and sang in the church choir for over 30 years. She was a member of the Skylarks, and Sumter’s Home Chapter of the DAR. She served as President of both the Sumter Art Association and the Woman’s Afternoon Music Club. She was a board member of the Sumter-Shaw Community Concert Association. Tae enjoyed playing with the Woman’s Tennis Group and played in a state women’s doubles championship match. Earlier, she won 4 golf club championships in Germany, Texas and Sumter. She traveled to all 50 states and 19 foreign countries and lived in Sumter 34 years. Tae married USAF Colonel Raymond Lee Graham, Jr. August 31, 1963. She is survived by her husband at home of 52 years, her son, Brian Winthrop Graham (Desiree) of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee and daughter, Stephanie Graham-Esparza (Joseph Esparza) of San Antonio, Texas and four grandchildren, Ava Elizabeth and Harper Jeanette Graham and Catherine Raine and Michael Joseph Esparza. She is also survived by her sister, Jo Ann Smith Trail (Tom) of Moscow, Idaho, and her brother, Dale Clark Smith (Libby) of Staunton, Virginia and six nephews and nieces. In addition, she is survived by her stepson, Dr. Mark Graham (Corine), Ella and Rea Graham of Fayetteville, North Carolina and Lucy Graham of Arlington, Virginia. Memorial Services will be held at 3 P.M. Thursday, June 9, 2016, at First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Jim Burton officiating. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall. . Burial will take place at Pleasant View Cemetery near Staunton, Virginia within sight of the family farm. Memorials may be made to the music ministry of the First Presbyterian Church, 9 W. Calhoun Street, Sumter, SC 29150 or to the Woman’s Afternoon Music Club, 38 Paisley Park, Sumter, SC 29150. On-line condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.