Willa Mae Graham

On Wednesday November 10, 2021, are beloved Willa Mae Graham was called home to be with our loving God. She departed this life at her home where she lived for 65+ years with her loving son by her side. She had lived a long, beautiful, eventful life and made it to the remarkable age of 93.

She was born and raised in South Carolina with mother, Rosa Prophet (Gordon) and father Willie Prophet , and nine other siblings (Irene, Narcissus, Frank, Wilton, Nathan, Gene, Rudolph, Roy and Clifton. Not too long after, they moved north to their new home in Washington DC.

Once in DC, she had attended Browne Junior High and from there went to Cardozo High. While at Cardozo, she explored different groups by joining clubs such as Amaryllis Club for women empowerment, Red Cross Club and several others. After she graduated from Cardozo, she went on to pursue a career in nursing and attended the National Institute of Practical Nursing and graduated. In the midst of her studies, she became quite smitten with a young man, John Mack Graham, that she met at a "five and dime" on 8th St NE. Not too long after that, they got married and started a family with a daughter, Johnnie

Mae and then a son Ralph Bernard.

Looking for a place to settle down with their family, they decided to move to Arlington, VA in the community of Halls Hill. She had started a new job at People's Drug Store (CVS) food counter in the times where black people were not allowed to sit or eat but that didn't stop John Mack from picking up his darling wife. He would wait outside or at the end of the counter to pick her up from work every evening. That didn't stop her from her drive to move up in the work force. And with all her perseverance and studying, she had worked her way into Hecht Co. (now Macy's) at Ballston as a retail and marketing administrator until it was time for her to retire.

She was a constant active member of her church, First Baptist. Once retired, she became a full-time active member with her church where she spent most of her Sundays enjoying activities, and participating in events and bus trips with her daughter and church family until she was unable to. In her free time ,she was always on the go with her daughter Johnnie Mae. They would go out on shopping trips, church gatherings, plays, and getting their hair and nails done. You name it, they were there together, mother-daughter duo. They were more like sisters than mother and daughter the way they hung out. She also enjoyed he favorite pastime of bowling a lot. She actually joined a league were she had won

numerous trophies throughout the DMV. She had later became restless and wanted to involve herself in more activities and joined the Senior Community Center where she enjoyed her time with new friends volunteering at the voting polls, arts and crafts and other events. She had problems with her wrist but still yearned to bowl and convinced the center to create a bowling league through a video gaming system called Wii, which was right up her alley. They had actually started competing across the nation virtually and had won plenty of trophies. When she was at home relaxing, she would always try to keep her mind sharp with crossword puzzles or watching game shows or playing Sudoko. But her love was always participating in activities and conversing with her church family.

She leaves to cherish memories a beloved son Ralph 'Bern" Bernard, daughter-in-law, Matilda, son-in-law, Jimmy Jones, grandchildren - Trina, Michael, Danielle and Jackie, Four Great grandchildren - Eric Jr., April, Gian, Semaj and a host of nieces and nephews, friends and relatives.