Dorothy Claire Hall Graham, Chattanooga, was born in Macon, Georgia on October 2nd, 1922 and passed away on July 31 st, 2019 after a long illness. She was preceded in death by her best friend and husband of sixty-six years, Dr. Frank B. Graham, III, all her siblings, her youngest daughter, Dr. Jan Gregory Graham Borelli, and her grandson, Joseph Gregory Borelli. She is survived by four of her children and their spouses Cary Graham Harpe (Ken), Frank B. Graham, IV (Brenda), Gale Graham Allison (Keith), Ashby Patterson Graham (Kathy), seven of her grandchildren, Graham M. Allison (Soobin), Ashby Patterson Graham (Nora), Patrick Graham Borelli (Jessica), Corin Gregory Harpe Runyon (Kyle), Walter V. Allison, Ill (Kirsten), Mary Claire Graham, and Frank B. Graham, V, three great grandchildren, and a multitude of nieces and nephews.
Dot, as she was known to her friends, and Dortch to her grandchildren, was an accomplished woman, who was named Miss Mercer University, earning a chemistry degree, and working as a chemist during World War II. She was also one of the early smart and beautiful Delta stewardesses. Dot was a fun and loving mother, whose birthday parties for her children were legendary, most often including four tiered layer cakes. Annually in December, each of her five children separately got to skip school and spend a whole day with her to themselves, enjoying the downtown Christmas decorations, shopping for gifts for their siblings and most often taking lunch at the old S&W Cafeteria. Easter brought huge baskets of candy (the largest reserved for her husband) and no child ever had such a lovely and generous tooth fairy. She raised 5 college graduates, 3 with advanced degrees, was an avid golfer and duplicate bridge player, and worked tirelessly for many charities and political campaigns; for many years arranging the flowers for the services at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
The family appreciates and thanks Mrs. Graham's caregivers: Nancy Penny (8 years), Tanya Gholar (seven years), Sandra Comley (two plus years), Shirley Jones, supplemented with her daughter, Rita McCane (two plus years), and her retired caregivers, Geraldine Dixon and Maudie Sams (both six years). The family sincerely thanks Hearth Hospice and Dot's nurses, Deborah Turner and formerly, Lora Baker, Aide Janet Wallace, and her Hearth Hospice minister, Allen Goolsby.
Dot was not a big believer in attending funerals, believing strongly that people should be out living their best life, so her funeral will be a private affair. But she would have been pleased to know you celebrated her life by contributing to a worthy cause or making a day special for a child.
Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home & Crematory, Battlefield Parkway.
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