Obituary

Novie James Graham

December 22, 1925 - December 30, 2022

Novie James Graham died at her residence in Mount Hermon, Louisiana on Friday December 30, 2022 at the age of 97. In 1943 she graduated from Spring Creek High School in Tangipahoa Parish as Valedictorian of her class. Having received her B.A. degree from Southeastern Louisiana University and her M.S. degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, she taught mostly English and sometimes Spanish and Social Studies in the high schools of Ascension, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes. She retired from teaching English at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. Her professional affiliations were with the SLU Alumni Association and the Louisiana Retired Teachers Association.

As a member of Bayou Chene Baptist Church in Amelia, Louisiana and later as a member again of Stoney Point Missionary Baptist Church near Franklinton, she taught the Adult Ladies Sunday School Class for about 50 years. Novie enjoyed studying God’s word, keeping photo albums of and fellowshipping with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, working in her yard and traveling in foreign countries as well as areas across the United States.

She is survived by 3 daughters and sons in law; Jill Graham Gasquet of Walker, LA, Jeanie Graham Neil and Skipper Neil of Lafayette, LA, Janet Graham Tisdale and Barry Tisdale of Brandon, MS; daughter in law Rosemary Listi Graham of Mt. Hermon; 10 grandchildren; Mindy Crain Dorough, Kristy Crain Bennett, Bradley Crain, Stephanie Gauthreaux Morvant, Trevor Gauthreaux, Sharon Graham Phillips, Brent Graham, Ryan Graham, Amanda Tisdale McDonald, Andrew Tisdale as well as 20 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.

Novie was preceded in death by her husband Hubert Graham, son Alan Graham, a son in law Henry Gasquet, Jr., parents Ezra James and Ophelia McElveen James, sisters Denver Ophelia James Crowe and Wanda James Erickson and an infant great-granddaughter Emma Leigh Graham.

Visitation will be at Crain Funeral Home (1109 Bene Street, Franklinton) Friday January 6th from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm. A funeral service will be held in the funeral home chapel at 12:00 pm Friday with Bro. Brent King officiating. Interment will follow in the “Kamp Grand Family Cemetery” at (24404 Jim Edwards Road, Mt. Hermon).

Pallbearers are grandsons Bradley Crain, Trevor Gauthreaux, Brent Graham, Ryan Graham, Andrew Tisdale and great-grandson Aaron Bennett. Honorary Pallbearers are Skipper Neil, Barry Tisdale, Jason Phillips, Kayne Morvant.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the Stoney Point Missionary Baptist Church Foreign Missions Fund (36466 Willfred Bond Road, Franklinton, LA 70438).