Thelma Sarah Bell Graham was born in New York City, New York on July 21, 1928 to Lula Almetta Dudley Bell and Elver Lee Bell.  She was the granddaughter of George Dudley and Sarah Hardy Dudley of Greenville, North Carolina and Nash P. Bell and Lucy Dixon Bell of Swansboro, North Carolina.  As a child, she spent her summers in Greenville and Swansboro visiting her loving grandparents.

Mrs. Graham was raised and received her lower grades education in Brooklyn, NY and then attended the illustrious Lincoln Academy in Kings Mountain, North Carolina.  She remained active throughout her life in the alumni activities of Lincoln Academy.

Mrs. Graham married Fenton Lomax Graham July 22, 1956 and spent many happy years in their lovely home in Brooklyn, NY.  They enjoyed entertaining family and friends, and they travelled the world extensively, delighting loved ones with many wonderful stories and gifts.

Mrs. Graham worked in a senior position for TWA Airlines where her responsibilities included crisis management and VIP relations.

Mr. and Mrs. Graham moved to Kernersville, North Carolina in 1998 and were delighted with their new home, church, and community.  With her husband, she enjoyed the company of neighbors, family, and friends.

Thelma Graham was known far and wide for her scrumptious meals served with love, none better than her famous roast duck, pork roast and fried chicken, among many others.  She was irrefutably a cook beyond compare and she served her meals in a home filled with grace, warmth, wit and laughter.

Mrs. Graham was the loving mother of Shirley and Fenton Graham, Jr.; the sister of Elver Bell, Jr.; and the niece of Bettie Dudley Dorcas, all of whom preceded her in death.

She was a devoted grandmother of Shirley and Fenton III; great-grandmother of Celine, Jamie, Abigail and Fenton IV; a loving aunt to Valerie, Stephanie, Gordon, Melanie Bell and their children; she was close throughout her life to her cousins Laura and Yvonne and their families.

She leaves to celebrate her joy-filled life her adoring husband of 64 years, Fenton L. Graham; her daughter-in-law, Deirdre; her grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and scores of cousins and friends.

Funeral mass will be held at 11:30am Friday, June 9, 2017 at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 616 S.  Cherry St. Kernersville, NC.  Entombment will follow in Eastlawn Gardens of Memory.  The family visitation will be held from 10:30am until 11:30am on Friday at the Church.