William Lea Graves (1864-1929)

The Bee (Danville, Virginia) 8 January 1929 (Page 1)

W. L. Graves Buried Today In Caswell

Well-Known Citizen Succumbs to Pneumonia Following Paralysis

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon for William Lea Graves known throughout Danville as Captain Billy Graves, who passed away yesterday from double neumonia following paralysis. The exercises will be conducted from his home, where he died, on Chestnut street, by Rev. James M. Shelburne, pastor of First Baptist church, of which he wasa consistent member. Interment will be made at Yanceyville, N. C.

Mr. Graves became serious ill at the old Harrison place in Caswell county where he and other members of the Graves family had gathered on December 20th. He was stricken with paralysis being brought back to his home here at the first opportunity where he gradually grew worse, pneumonia infection setting in which claimed him yesterday evening at 5:30 o'clock. Members of his family were with him at the time of his passing.

Mr. Graves was in his sixty-fourth year. He was born in Caswell county, N. C. near Yanceyville on June 30, 1865, the son of William B. and Sarah Lea Graves. He was educated at Wake Forest College and spent his young manhood in farming near the place of his birth. Twenty-seven years ago he moved to Danville and engaged in the mercantile business. At the time of his death being connected with the Swanson Supply Co. He enjoyed a wide friendship in this city, and was generally beloved.

He was married to Miss Belle Harrison of Caswell county, N. C., who preceded him to the grave Sept. 17, 1910. The deceased is survived by one brother, B. S. Graves of Yanceyville, two sisters, Mrs. T. L. Sellars and Mrs. C. T. Holt, both of Burlington, N. C.; two daughters and one son, Misses Irma and Mary Graves, and W. Harrison Graves, all of Danville, and one grandson, W. H. Graves, Jr. Deceased had a large family connection and a host of nieces and nephews who were devoted to him, now morn their loss. Miss Adeline Harrison,who has made her home with him since childhood returned to his bedside from Richmond.

The Bee (Danville, Virginia) 9 January 1929 (Page 1)

William L. Graves Buried Monday At Yanceyville

The funeral of William Lea Graves, who died at his Chestnut street home on Monday afternoon after a short illness, was conducted yesterday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock by Rev. James M. Shelburne. Interment was made in the family burial ground at Yanceyville, N. C., where a large number of people had gathered.

The pall-bearers were: Dr. S. A. Shadrach, A. E.Tucker, T. H. Edwards, Charlie Turner, H. C. Swanson, Frank Robertson, Stokes Gatewood, and Irvin Booth.

The floral designs were borne by Willie Brown, Lloyd Smith, Russell Poindexter, T. R. Gettys, Townes Wimbish, Fred Chaney, E. H. Marshall, J. R. Bondurant, J. R. Stephens, Heywood McKee, J. A. Jones, Frank James, J. P. Swanson, Jones Miles, Harry Slade, J. H. Slade, Jules Johnson, John Wood, Aubrey Terry, H. W. Brown, J. H. Wilson, Howard Kympton, Allan L. Fox, Sandy Moore, Morton Riddle, Dr. C. W. Pritchett, J. L. McCuddy, C. G. Holland, C. M. Flynn, P. H. Neal, F. W. Brown, Harry Marshall, L. R. Fuller, Jim Cobb, Lawrence Hutchinson, Nick Ruffin, Burnie Talyor, Newman Turner, Will Leath, W. F. Hurdle, and others.

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