Milton Graves

Mr. Milton L. Graves, age 77, of 2145 Burnett Ferry Road, Rome went to be with the Lord on Saturday, September 16, 2006 at an Atlanta hospital.Mr. Graves was born in Dekalb County, Alabama on January 17, 1929, the son of the late Ulyss Rice Graves and Detha Whitmire Graves. He had been a resident of Floyd County for 50 years and was a member of Mt. Alto Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher of the Men's Class. Mr. Graves was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the United States Army. He was retired in 1993 from Georgia Kraft where he had been employed for 36 years and was a heavy equipment operator. Mr. Graves was very much a Coosa Eagle and was a former president of the Booster's Club and an honorary assistant football coach, a member of the Rome Braves K Club and volunteered for the Rome Boys Club Choir. He was preceded in death by his parents, a granddaughter, Leah Michele Buxton, April 12, 2005 and a brother, Jimmy Graves in 2004.Survivors include his wife, Ozella Crane Graves, to whom he was married July 28, 1950; three sons and daughters in-law, Dr. Mickey (Vicki) Graves of Ocala, FL, Rev. Gary (Lee) Graves of Rome and Jeff Graves of Cartersville; one daughter, LaDonna Graves Burton of Rome; step-mother, Mrs. Maggie Graves of Ft. Payne, AL; three sisters and brothers in-law, Betty (Briggs) Chitwood of Ft. Payne, AL, Ann (Jay) Helleums of Albertville, AL and Charlotte Graves of Ft. Payne, AL; father in-law and mother in-law, Rev. Jeff and Lora Crane of Rome; sister in-law, Evelyn Graves of Mentone, AL; thirteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. A number of nieces and nephews also survive.Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 4:00 pm at West Rome Baptist Church with Dr. Jerry Vines and Mr. Graves'sons, Dr. Mickey Graves and Rev. Gary Graves officiating. Interment will follow at Oaknoll Memorial Gardens.The family will receive friends at the West Rome Baptist Church today (Monday) from 6:00 until 9:00 pm and at other hours the family may be contacted at the residence.Active pallbearers will include sons and grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will include deacons of Mt. Alto Baptist Church and the Men's Sunday School Class, members of his Army military unit and Zack Walker.Flowers will be accepted but those desiring may make donations to Mt. Alto Baptist Church, 1915 Huffaker Road, NW, Rome, GA 30165 for the Milton Graves Memorial Fund or to The Stovall Hope Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 907, Dacula, GA 30019.The Oaknoll Chapel of Jennings Funeral Home has charge of the services for Mr. Milton R. Graves.