James Perry (Jim) Graham of Crossville, Tennessee, passed away on December 3, 2025. He was
90.
Jim was born on June 3, 1935 in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania to the late John Holler Graham and
Edna Marie Close. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Lois Close Bell, and brothers,
John Hugh Graham and Robert Allan Graham, his spouse Virginia Bialecki Graham.
Jim attended Mount Lebanon High School in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. He also attended the
University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he lettered in soccer.
He met his first wife, Mary Katherine Benn while in high school and married her August 30,
1954. He met his second wife while on a business trip to Pittsburgh, Virginia Bialecki Gouza and
they were married on May 17, 1985.
Upon leaving the University of Pittsburgh, Jim worked for the Thiokol Chemical Company out of
Huntsville, Alabama. In 1960 he and his family moved to Cape May, New Jersey where he
worked for the Harbison Walker Magnesium Plant. He was also active during this time on the
Cape May Rescue Squad. From 1967 to 1969, Jim managed several Arby’s restaurants in
Pennsylvania and Alabama. Jim then went on to manage various brick and tile plants in New
Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Mexico and South Carolina. His last and his favorite was building and
managing the Crossville Ceramics Plant in Crossville, Tennessee. He loved Crossville, Tennessee
and made it his home base of operation while doing ceramic tile sales across the United States
and overseas.
Jim was in the Naval Reserves from 1952-1964. Leaving the service with an honorable discharge
as a Seaman 3 rd Class.
Jim had a love for life and enjoyed playing golf, tennis and fishing. He had won numerous
awards while playing Senior Olympic tennis tournaments. In later life he enjoyed bird watching
from his sunroom at his residence in Crossville, Tennessee.
James P. Graham is survived by his sisters, Betty Irene Martinko of Chester, Virginia and Mary
Lou Aufman of Cincinnati, Ohio; his children: Mary Ellen Graham-Harbage (Dusty) of Rickman,
Tennessee, Patricia Anne Graham of York, South Carolina, James Allen Graham of Wallace,
South Carolina, Bonnie Sue Lewis (James Thomas) of Bennettsville, South Carolina, Sandra Jean
Leppard (John) of Blowing Rock, North Carolina, Diane Marie Mitchell (David) of Crossville,
Tennessee, Deborah Ann Hunter (Jeffery) of Cheraw, South Carolina, Theodore Thomas Gouza
of New Castle, Pennsylvania, Bradley Chester Gouza (Amanda) of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania,
Virginia Lavern Margaret Flynn (James) of Summerville, South Caroliina; grandchildren:
Christopher Andrew Graham of Cookeville, Tennessee, Jeffrey Chad Lewis of Wallace, South
Carolina, Tabitha Catherine Colburn (Tyler) of Meridianville, Alabama, John Alexander Leppard
Jr. of Blowing Rock, North Carolina, Mary Alexis Leppard of Charlotte, North Carolina, Haley

Marie Mitchell of Hazel Green, Alabama, Shawn Michael Mitchell of Phoenix, Arizona, Dillon
Matthew Mitchell (Alli) of Crossville, Tennessee, Christopher James Flynn of Amsterdam, Ohio,
Victoria Nicole Skipper (Justin) of Ladson, South Carolina, Nicholas Theodore Flynn of
Summerville, South Carolina; great-grandchildren: Karlee Marie Flynn of Amsterdam, Ohio and
Michaela Grace Skipper of Ladson, south Carolina.
A Celebration of Life for James Perry Graham will be in the Spring of 2026. In lieu of flowers, the
family requests that donations be made to the Tunnel for Towers or another charity of your
choice.