Sebastopol:

Services for Mr. Willie M. Graham will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, March 14, 2020 at White Plains Holiness Assembly. Burial will be held at White Plains Holiness Assembly Cemetery. Bro. Mitchell Graham, Bro. Ricky Boler and Bro. Brett Cooper will be officiating.

Visitation will be Friday, March 13, 2020 from 5:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. at Milling Funeral Home in Sebastopol. There will be a Visitation Saturday, March 14, 2020 from 10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M. prior to the service at White Plains.

Mr. Willie M. Graham, 71, of Sebastopol, died on March 10, 2020.

Even though Willie Graham was born and raised as the baby of a large family in the country, he would later move to Sebastopol and come to love that little town. He not only built and roofed houses, he also served as police officer for Sebastopol for over 20 years. Some of the people became his dearest friends. He loved visiting with his Duett's people, finding out all of the news and hearing the commentary first hand. When he recounted some of it later, there would be a little grin and a twinkle in his eye. As much as he loved his hometown, he would, in his later years, find another place that was dear to him…..Mountain View, Arkansas. He wanted to go often and immerse himself in the small mountain town life, beautiful music, and connections with old friends. On ordinary days at home, he could be found in his chair with his little dog Chelsea either watching a western he had watched too many times, listening with great pleasure to Jimmy Swaggert, or solving the world's most pressing problems with the help of Fox News. When he could, however, he loved to go out to eat and go to church. Willie was brought to White Plains as a small child on a pallet, and he faithfully carried his three little girls to church on Sunday. Later in his life, he would once again find solace in the church, faithfully attending, sometimes quietly crying as he heard his favorite old songs, asked for prayer for his family and friends, and listened to the sacred words he had learned so many years before. After he surrendered his heart completely to the God he had learned about as a child, he was baptized surrounded by his family and church friends….a testament to a beautiful saving grace. Willie loved his family with a fierce devotion. His three girls were the best part of him. He proved to them again and again that his was an unconditional love. He told his girls that they were "prettier than Tom Brady's wife" and he wanted to build a house big enough for all of them to live together. Sunday nights were pizza nights with his family, and he treasured those times. April was the month for fishing on Washington Lake with the sons-in-law and grandsons. He bragged shamelessly on his grandchildren, and in the later years, he would tear up as he told people how selflessly Caroline (Mama) cared for him. He kept his brothers and sisters close in his heart and mourned the loss of his parents long after their deaths. With his great love for his family and his friends and his beautiful surrender to Jesus Christ in the last years of his life, Willie pointed the way to a place where he could live in peace together with his loved ones forever.

Survivors:  Wife: Caroline Graham of Sebastopol

5 Daughters: Penny Scott & husband Dale of Carthage

Renita Wilcher & husband Brad of Sebastopol

Becky Brown & husband Erick of Sebastopol

Lisa Sills of Sebastopol

Olivia Flautt of Union

3 Sisters: Ann Breedlove & husband Harold of Union

Eva Breedlove & husband Joe of Dixon

Neva Breedlove of Conehatta

1 Brother: R.W. "Bud" Graham & wife Mary of Texas

13 Grandchildren

7 Great- Grandchildren

Jason Gilmore who he considered a son

Mr. Willie M. Graham is preceded in death by his parents: Ollie and Ola Graham; 1 Grandson: J.D. Suggs; 1 Sister; 3 Brothers

Pallbearers:  Dee Landrum, Brandon Landrum, Ethan Henderson, Graham Scott, Gunter Scott, Travis Bryan