Wilma Lea Graham

WILMA LEA GRAHAM, 90, departed this life peacefully Jan. 21, 2015 at home surrounded by family and friends. She was the daughter of Luther and Vera Been. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Harold and Jackie; her sisters, Madeleine and Marguerite and her husband, Bill Graham. She is survived by her sons, Walter (Ann) and Joe (Jane Lee); grandchildren, Joshua Graham, Emilie Godwin (Ian) and Carter Graham (Maggie); nine great-grandchildren; sister, Mary Neil Gilliam and sister-in-law, Maxine Graham. Wilma was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ; she was a member of Chenal Valley Church. She lovingly raised her sons before working as a secretary for the Arkansas School for the Deaf. Wilma advocated on behalf of many forms of physical and mental disabilities. She was an activist supporting racial integration and equality for all during the 1957 Central High crisis. She supported her husband in his work for the Arkansas Gazette as editorial cartoonist and participated in other organizations such as STOP. A memorial service will be held at Chenal Valley Church at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 26, 2015. A private family interment will be held separately. Arrangements by Roller-Chenal Funeral Home 13801 Chenal Parkway Little Rock, Ark. (501) 224-8300. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her honor to a charity of you choice. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.