Obituary of Bertha Virginia Graves

GRAVES, Bertha Virginia Jones, age 97 of Mt. Juliet, passed away June 15, 2017. Mrs. Graves was born February 1, 1920 to the late, Joseph and Ann Brown Gidcomb Jones. Her family moved to Mt. Juliet from Sawdust, a small community in Maury County, when she was 14 years old. She was proud of Mt. Juliet where she lived most of her life. She graduated from Mt. Juliet High School in 1938 where she was a member of Mt. Juliet High Girls' Basketball Team and was selected to the All-County High School Team that year. She was also selected as Miss Mt. Juliet High for 1938. She met and married her husband of 61 years, Elmer Graves while attending high school there also. She was always proud of these accomplishments. She worked and retired from AVCO after 29 years of service. She was a longtime member of Center Chapel Church of Christ. She enjoyed gardening and yard work. She was an avid quilter, making numerous quilts in her life. She was famous for her pillow quilts. She made over 300 that she gave to people. She had a list of every person she made one for. She will be remembered for her quilting and for being a good Christian woman.

She was preceded in death by husband of 61 years, Elmer Graves; son, Joe Graves; parents, Joseph and Anna Brown Gidcomb Jones; brothers, Beale Jones, Frank Jones and Albert Jones; sisters, Elizabeth Fly and Margaret Wright; daughters-in-law, Juanita Peercy Graves and Gayle Mitchell Graves. She is survived by sons, Allen (Barbara) Graves and Larry Graves; sister, Jane Poindexter; granddaughters, Lesa Hughes and Debbie (Ricky) Tignor; grandson, Jody (Gayla) Graves, Bryan (Angie) Graves, Tim (Sherry) Graves, Greg (Teri) Graves and Mike (Sharon) Graves; great-grandchildren, Conner & Braden Hughes, Jesse & Blake Tignor, Amanda (Kassie) Briley, Amber Graves, Brianna Graves, Buddy (Cyndy) Escue, Chrissy (Brad) Bruce, Lindsey (CJ) Dorris, Brittney & Daniel Graves, and Dalton & Wyatt Graves; great-great-grandchildren, Kody & Kolton Briley, Taylor & Bo Escue, Brooks, Blakely & Braelynn Bruce and Sawyer Dorris; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be held Monday, June 19th at 1:00 pm at Center Chapel Church of Christ with Bro. Darrell Duncan and Bro. David Lee officiating. Interment will follow the service at Mt. Juliet Memorial Gardens with Tim, Greg, Mike, Jody, and Bryan Graves and Ricky Tignor serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are: Elders & Deacons of Center Chapel Church of Christ, Herman & Martha Coleman, Bobby & Donna Patton, Danny & Pat McGuire, Jim & Lisa Tomlin, John & Jan Hiter, Karen Thompson, Sudie Hillis, Jerry Mires, John Burkeen, Rick Sloan, Don Jackson, Pat Johnson Dixon, Tony, Michelle, Michael & Nick Mercante, Leta Wigington, Joe & Virginia Mitchum, Jeff & Debbie Silverman, A. J. Ward, Jim & Robbie Rice and very special friend & caregiver, Florence Fulgham. Visitation with the family will be Sunday, June 18th from 2-8 pm at Sellars Funeral Home at Mt. Juliet and Monday, June 19th from 12-1 pm at Center Chapel Church of Christ.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to Center Chapel Church of Christ Building Fund or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements by Sellars Funeral Home at Mt. Juliet, 2229 N. Mt. Juliet Road, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122, 615-758-5459, obituary line 615-758-8818, www.sellarsfuneralservices.com