Cover photo for Ruby Barrett Graham's Obituary
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1916 Ruby 2012

Ruby Barrett Graham

July 21, 1916 — June 30, 2012

Chapel Hill

Ruby Barrett Graham, 95, died peacefully on June 30, 2012.

A graveside service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 27, at Hillside Cemetery in Laurinburg.

She is survived by her sons, C. Barrett Graham (Sharyne) of Newport and Thomas W. Graham (Trina) of Alamance County; her daughter, Virginia G. Drill (Zachary) of Hillsborough; her brother, John G. Barrett of Lexington, VA; her granddaughters, Catherine D. Buchanan (Jason) of Wake Forest and Linda M. Graham of Carrboro; and her great grandson, Caden M. Graham.

Born July 21, 1916 in Gastonia, she was the second daughter and third child of the Rev. W. C. Barrett and Ruby McKay of Laurinburg after whom she was named. She grew up in the Baptist church, first in Gastonia and from the sixth grade in Laurinburg.

Ruby graduated from Meredith College in 1937 and was president of the student body during her senior year. Following graduation she taught for five years in the public schools of Goldsboro and met her future husband, John Borden Graham, M.D.

In 1946 Ruby, her husband, and eldest child Barrett moved to Chapel Hill. Two additional children followed: a daughter, Virginia, and a son, Thomas.

In her early years in Chapel Hill Ruby was active in community affairs, particularly with the public schools and the Presbyterian Church. Subsequently, she spent 25 years working for the UNC Alumni Association. She vigorously supported her husband's academic career in the Department of Pathology at UNC. In addition to entertaining numerous visitors and organizations, she lovingly opened her home to her extended family and the friends of her children.

Ruby enjoyed extensive travel with her husband. She was appreciated for her fine cooking, her sense of humor, her love of bourbon whiskey and of chocolate syrup, and the fact that she never met a stranger.

After suffering a debilitating stroke in 1993, Ruby lived at home where she was lovingly cared for by several caregivers and her husband, John, until his death in 2004. Subsequently, she lived at the Dubose Health Center at the Cedars in Chapel Hill.

Read Ruby Graham's Obituary and Guestbook on www.mcdougald.com.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ruby Barrett Graham, please visit our flower store.

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