Tuscaloosa| Dr. Lydia Jeanette Stamey Graves, age 85, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 22, 2022. Visitation will be Thursday, October 27, 2022, from 12:30 to 2 PM at One Hope Church, followed by the service at 2 PM with Rev. John Vaughan officiating and Sunset Memorial directing. Entombment in Serenity Mausoleum at Sunset Memorial Park will follow after the service.
Jeanette was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Dr. William Charles Graves, mother Beulah Garner Stamey, father Odis Fonzo Stamey, stepmother Carletta "Nanny" Stamey, sister Nancy Vollwrath. She is survived by her daughter, Gina Marie Graves Paulette (Bennett); sons, Jeff Graves (Heather), and Rick Graves, M.D (Lori); her brothers, Ronald Stamey (Linda), Larry Stamey (Kaye); her sister, Betty Sykes, and her grandchildren, Ben Graves(Elliott), Shelby Graves, Hannah Paulette, Connor Graves, William Graves, Zack Paulette, Lydia Paulette, Chloe Graves, and Joshua Paulette.
Lydia “Jeanette” Stamey Graves was born March 22, 1937, in Guilford County, North Carolina. She graduated from Southern Wesleyan College in Central, SC., in 1961. She received a Master's degree from the University of Alabama before achieving a Doctorate in Education at the University of Tennessee.
Jeanette taught at various schools in Tuscaloosa. One of those schools was Verner Elementary, where four of her grandkids attended some 35-plus years later.
After graduating from the University of Tennessee, the family moved to Austin, Texas, briefly before relocating to Montgomery, Alabama.
Jeanette taught special education at Robert E Lee High School. She meant the world to her former students, who frequently stopped her and her children on the street to say how much they loved and appreciated her. Her students often talked about how much she meant to their jobs and families. She would head a Summer Educational Work Program that helped students find summer jobs. Even with both of these jobs, she found time to teach college at Auburn Montgomery University and Troy State Montgomery. There were many late nights when she came home, but she still took time to proofread her kids school papers and type them on her old manual typewriter. And we can’t forget the many trips she took her kids, along with their friends, go to the Family Mart on Southern Boulevard at 11 PM or 12 AM on weekend nights and sometimes during the week after she finished teaching college classes.
She capped off her career as Area Coordinator for Special Populations for Montgomery County Schools. Although she retired, she continued volunteering for the Montgomery Board of Education well into her 70s.
Jeanette loved her church family at Capital City Church of the Nazarene and was an anchor for her fellow members, pastor, and anyone who came in contact with her. Having a servant’s heart, she was willing to do anything the church needed. She served as a board member, a treasurer, a choir member, a Sunday School teacher, and in any other capacities, she was needed. She was beloved and was always growing wherever God planted her.
She loved her grandchildren and was always a steadying force in their lives. She always accepted them for their individuality while reinforcing their personal blessings and talents. Nothing made her happier than being at their sporting events and meeting all their friends. And we mustn’t forget, nobody would ever go hungry if grandma was around! She loved every child she met and considered them all hers. Despite all the academic accolades and career success, as far as she was concerned, being a mother and a grandmother was her most significant achievement.
A special thanks for the flowers, calls, food, visits, encouragement and, most importantly, your prayers.
Ben Graves, Connor Graves, William Graves, Zack Paulette, Joshua Paulette, and Dylan Hackett will serve as pallbearers.
Honorary Pallbearers are Best Years Fellowship, One Hope Church, Capital City Church of the Nazarene, former Montgomery Public School friends, and Amedisys Home Health.
In lieu of flowers, a contribution to one of these ministries, which meant so much to our mother, would be so much appreciated:
Best Years Fellowship
One Hope Church
1501 McFarland Blvd N
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
Gideons International
Box 70181
Tuscaloosa, AL 36407
Capital City Church of the Nazarene
4450 Vaughn Rd
Montgomery, AL 36106
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