Dr. Walker Copeland McGraw

Dr. McGraw was born and raised in Savannah, GA. He attended Clemson College (now University) and the Medical College of Georgia, graduating in 1962. He completed his internship in Savannah and had a year of training in general surgery in Macon. He then served 2 years in the US Army as an assistant surgeon at Fort Monroe in VA. Dr. McGraw was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division as a combat surgeon in the Dominican Republic and was awarded the Bronze Star. After his discharge in 1966 he completed his surgery training in Orlando, FL. He then went into private practice in Gainesville, GA. After two years he moved to Atlanta to practice general surgery and industrial medicine. Dr. McGraw was certified in General Surgery by the American Board of Surgery, elected Fellow in American College of Surgeons and was a member of the Georgia Surgical Society. He was elected Fellow of the American College of Occupational Medicine and was considered a father of occupational medicine in the state of Georgia.

Socially, Dr. McGraw enjoyed playing golf, hunting with both bow and rifles, reading, and history. He grew up in the Baptist and Episcopal faith and was a member of Freedom Tabernacle in Cumming, GA. He was an active member of the Guideons for many years and loved sharing about Jesus and God's Word with others. Moving to Brunswick, GA in 2017 he joined Bay Harbour Church of God. He enjoyed medical ministries in Haiti and South Africa.

His parents, James Archie McGraw and Annie Lee Copeland McGraw, brother, James Archie McGraw, Jr., sister, Nancy Carolyn McGraw and first wife, Marjorie Upson, preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife, Marian Griffin McGraw of Brunswick; a daughter, Marie Upson McGraw of Brentwood, TN; son, Walker Thomas McGraw (Susan) of Gainesville, GA; two step-daughters, Caryn Presswood (Tavish) of Canton, GA and Bethany Layton (Andy) of Tampa, FL; a step-son, Jerry “J” Wayne Griffin, Jr. (Patricia “Tricia”) of Washington, DC; three grandchildren, Walker Thomas McGraw, Jr. and Dorian Leigh McGraw of Gainesville, and Lydia McGraw Dieck (Ben) of Fayetteville, NC; three step-grandchildren, Caspian, Kai, and Bella Layton; two great-granddaughters, Delilah and Arabella Dieck; two sisters, Elizabeth “Betty” Alice Porterfield of Rock Hill, SC and Mary Ann Hardy of Blacksburg, VA, a brother, John William McGraw of Clemson, SC; brother-in-law, Joe Wheeler, Jr. (Ginger) of Bryson City, NC and several beloved nieces and nephews.

A graveside service with military honors will be held at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah on Thursday, December 28, 2023 at 2:00 pm.

Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be expressed at www.edomillerandsons.com for the McGraw family.