Ansol Everette Graham, Sr.

Mr. Ansol Everette Graham, Sr. entered into his eternal rest on Sunday,
May 1, 2022, at Duke University Hospital in Durham, NC. Born in McNeill
Township on May 4, 1945, Ansol Everette Graham, Sr. is the third of 13
children born to the late Solomon Graham and Reaver Pass Graham of
Southern Pines, NC. He is also the paternal grandson of the late John
Graham and Emmerline Devone Graham and the maternal grandson of
Wallace Dougles and Lessey Pass. He attended West Southern Pines
schools in his early years and graduated from West Southern Pines High
School in 1963. He graduated from Elizabeth City State University with a
Bachelor of Science in Social Studies in 1968. Additionally, he pursued
Graduate Studies in Exceptional Education at the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill and Graduate Studies in Education at Campbell
University.
Ansol retired in 1998 after 30 years of service to Moore County Schools.
During his tenure, he taught at West End High School, West Southern
Pines High School, and Pinecrest High School. He was employed with
Pinecrest High School from 1969-1993, where he served as Assistant
Principal and Teacher in Secondary Social Science. He was also Head of
the Driver Education Program at Pinecrest and he also served as Director
of Moore County Schools Driver Education Program from 2002-2004.
Ansol Graham envisioned and created the first Television Broadcasting
course at Pinecrest High School. He designed and created the first
broadcasting studio which produced a daily news broadcast for the school
which remains in existence today. His creativity and professionalism helped
to foster many journalism and broadcasting students who continue to
contribute to excellence in news, journalism, and broadcasting across the
Sandhills and the state of North Carolina. He will leave an indelible mark on
all his students he inspired over many years, who loved him as a teacher
and role model.
Ansol also contributed to his community in many ways that will not soon be
forgotten. He was appointed to the State Board of Elections for Moore
County and then served as Chairman of the Moore County Board of
Elections from 2011-2013. He was only the 2nd African-American to serve
as Chairman of the Board. As a lifelong advocate for voting rights, his long
legacy was committed to keeping the elections process fair to all. He was a
strong advocate for teachers rights and a lifelong member of the National
Education Association, as well as, Past President of the Moore County
Teacher Academic Council and Past President of the Moore County, North
Carolina Association of Educators.
Ansol Graham was a Past Master of the Cornerstone Lodge No. 68, P.H.A.
- Free and Accepted Masons. He was a past member of the Order of the
Eastern Star, P.H.A.- Golden Star Chapter 84. He was also Past Potentate
of Ouda Temple No. 147 - Shriners.
Everette was preceded in death by the love of his life, Doris Patricia Holley
Graham. They were together for 58 years of which they were married for 54
years. He was also preceded in death by his parents and one brother who
died soon after birth. He is survived by his daughter Katrina N. (Nikki)
Graham (Bronson) of Fuquay-Varina, NC and his son Ansol E. Graham, Jr.
(Dusty) of Seven Lakes, NC; his grandchildren (who were the beat of Papa
and Mimi's hearts) Avery Ethan, Alexis Evamae, Aiden William, Justus
Gabriel, and Journey Nowell, with special fondness for Mrs. Faye
Gasaway, who brought sunshine after rain and was always a kind and
sweet spirit in his life.
He is also survived by his remaining 11 siblings, Mary Pat Tibbs, Solomon
Graham, Wesley Graham, Daniel Graham (Oletha), Nancy Faye Brown
(Frankie), Marti Moore (John), Gloria Fairley, Vera Miller, Stafford Graham
(Sheila), Neal Graham (Carleena), and Tony Graham, He also leaves a
host of nieces, nephews, and relatives whom he dearly loved; with special
fondness for Joey, Tyler, Baeley, and Andrew. Uncle Everette and Aunt Pat
are always watching over you and their love for you will always be present.
Everette is forever bound by love to the Holley Family, of which he was a
cherished member for almost 60 years, to include his cherished sister-in-
law, Elnora Holley Faison; his nieces, Robyn Harris (Lonnie), Jamonica
Holmes (Patrick), Sean Patrick and Jordyn Nicole, with special fondness for
Clara Holley, Tonola and Eli Barber.
Everette wants to be remembered as a man of integrity, wisdom, and
honor; who worked hard every day loving and providing for his wife, his
children, and serving God. He loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and
his beloved wife, Pat, to whom he lived his sacred vows every day of their
lives together. He loved her so deeply throughout the blessed life they
shared and now they can be together in the body of Christ. He was a man
of few words but the ones he spoke mattered and made a difference in
each and every life he touched. He sowed a legacy of hard work, love, and
sacrifice, so that his children and grandchildren would have a better life and
a greater future. Now, he takes his eternal rest. God filled his life with His
Grace from beginning to end.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations in the name of
Ansol E. Graham, Sr. to the ECSU Foundation - 995230 Chancellor’s
Priorities, whose purpose is to aid, support, and promote teaching,
research and service in the various educational, scientific, scholarly,
professional, artistic, and creative endeavors of the University.
Elizabeth City State University Foundation
http://www.ecsu.edu/Foundation/
1704 Weeksville Road
Elizabeth City, NC 27909
252.335.3400

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