Johnnie Graham

Johnnie Graham was the only child to the late Pete Graham and Hattie Mae Filmore on January 27, 1920 in Florence County, South Carolina, where he was also raised. There, he developed a love for baseball. Johnnie Graham was drafted into the United States Army (WWII) in 1940, where he was a cook. Johnnie was honorably discharged in 1944. Upon being discharged, Johnnie moved up north to Homestead, PA, where he was employed by U.S. Steel. There he met Eugene Mc Clester and the last Douglas Mc Clester and the three of them tore up the streets of Homestead and the Hill District. YES, they partied HARD! Johnnie loved the ladies and the ladies loved him. Then one day that all came to a screeching halt when a beautiful, phenomenal woman moved into the neighborhood from New York City, by the name of Frances Roberta Yarbrough. The two became one flesh in 1968 and were married 36 years. Johnnie loved and cared deeply for her until her death on April 18, 2004. Johnnie was a member of Park Place A.M.E. Zion. He accepted the Lord as his personal Savior late in life and he had been praying and singing old Negro spirituals and Hymns ever since. He was also a huge fan of the Homestead Grays, Pittsburgh Crawford's and the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball teams. He also loved playing checkers, sitting outside, playing and giving out dollars to his two special girls, Jordan and Lovey, going to Community Life; sitting around with his buddies and all of the employees. Johnnie was also a big clothes and shoe lover. He and Curtis Coleman loved to shop and would be in the malls for hours going from store to store. Johnnie departed from this life to his eternal resting place on Thursday, June 25, 2015. Preceding him in death are his parents ~ Pete Graham and Hattie Mae Filmore, wife ~ Frances Roberta Graham; sons ~ Bobby Britton. The memory of this great man will live on through his son ~ Billy Britton; granddaughters ~ Vicki Britton, Shontain Moore, Minister Michele B ritton, Rochelle Britton, and Tina Britton; special nephews ~ Harold Gailord & LeRoy Cole; cousins ~ Luiza Filmore, Jack Filmore, Eugene Mc Clester, Gladys Mc Clester and Willa Mae Mc Clester; caregivers ~ Christine (Curtis) Coleman and Merrill (Tonya) Holt; God-children ~ Jordan Manley and Amoura Adams, nine great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; and a host of friends.

Tributes

Johnnie Graham

January 27, 1920 - June 25, 2015