Bill C. Graham, 79 of Goodlettsville, Tennessee passed away at 4:45 PM on Monday, October 21, 2019 from a sudden illness.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday December 8, 2019 at 3 PM. at the High Mesa Cowboy Church located at 1100 High Mesa Drive in Brownwood,Texas 76801. There will be lots of music, photos, happy and maybe some sad stories shared, with laughter and tears. So, be sure to bring a hanky or Kleenex with you if you plan to attend!
Bill was born to the late Clyde Emerson Graham Sr. and Myrtle James Graham on August 26, 1940 in Brownwood, Texas. Bill graduated from Brownwood High School in 1958 and also attended Howard Payne College for a while.
Bill grew up in a musical family ( both of his parents & his older Brother Clyde Jr. ), so it was no big surprise to his family and friends that he would eventually follow his passion for music and turn it into his life-long career. Bill started out here in Texas with Dean Beard and his band The Crew Cats. At some point in time he crossed the path of Roger Miller and accepted a job with him for several years. Then he caught the ear of Wanda Jackson who hired him away from Roger Miller. While with her band Bill wrote several songs that Wanda recorded. Eventually he met a young and up-coming singer by the name of Glen Campbell and from there we all pretty much know the story. Famed as “The Other Billy Graham” thanks to Glen Campbell, who never let him live that one down. During that time of his life traveling with Glen world-wide he met and befriended many people all around the world, many whom he still kept in contact with up until the time he passed.
Bill was loved by many and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Bill never married, so his living direct survivors are as follows: Nieces’ Loretta Silvus and husband Paul, Sondria L. Odom and Nephew Clyde E. Graham III, Great-Niece Amanda Odom and children Kinley, Kaidence and Brayden. Cousin John P. Ward (husband of Bills’ deceased Niece Linda C. Ward ), Great-Niece Catherine Hogue and husband John and Great-Nephew Robert Meanza. Also Cousins Mildred Graham, Sheila Potter and husband Donald and daughters Cheri, Carrie and Jill. Cousin Nancy Haffner and husband Ron and daughter Rena and her family. Cousin Curtis Dean Jr. and children Becky and Terry. Cousins Anita and husband Dennis Green, Patricia DiDante and a recently found relative Pat Graham Keebler.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents Clyde E. Graham Sr. and Myrtle James Graham, sister June Graham Pardi, brother Clyde E. Graham Jr. and Great-nephew James Robert Graham.
In lieu of flowers which will die and fade away, Bills’ family requests that donations be made in his Name/Memory to the “Operation CatSnip” Program which helps to TNR ( trap, neuter & return ) Feral/Stray Cats in his hometown. Bill was a cat lover even though he couldn’t have them indoors. But when he lived in Nashville he had several cats that he fed and enjoyed talking to most every day. So we felt that he would whole heartily approve of this specific program.
Donations can be made by check or money order mailed to: CTSAC, 3016 Milam Dr., Brownwood,Texas 76801 or there is a clickable Pay Pal Link on their website under the “Donate” button/tab. Please be sure to donate to the “Operation CatSnip” Program Only as that is the one sorely needing help/funds! Also be sure to have “In Memory of Bill C. Graham” on it, no matter what form of donation is made. Link: http://www.ctsanimalcenter.org/donate.html
