Deacon Lola Fisher Graham

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Deacon Lola Fisher Graham, Lola was a retired educator with the Westmoreland County Public School System. Beloved wife of the late Deacon Joseph Graham and sister to the late Deacon Granville E. Fisher, Jr., Home going Services are incomplete at this time. Please keep Pastor Fisher and the family in prayer.

Lola Marie Fisher Graham was born October 12, 1929, in Baltimore, MD, to Granville E. Fisher, Sr. and Bettie Weldon Fisher. At a young age, she was brought to live with her grandparents, George and Mary Weldon, in Oldhams, VA, where she has spent most of her life.

Lola was educated in the public schools of Westmoreland County-Kremlin School, and A. T. Johnson High School. Upon finishing A. T. Johnson H.S., she attended Virginia Union University, graduating with a BA degree in English and French.

She furthered her education by taking extension courses at Temple University, George Washington University, University of Virginia, VCU, and Virginia State University. She also studied at the Presbyterian School of Christian Education. 

Lola began teaching in a two-room school, teaching grades 4-7. She taught Reading and English to 4th, 5th, and 6th graders at Montross Elementary School when the schools were consolidated.

After teaching several years, she saw a need for Special Education for some students.  With much encouragement from her principal, Mr. Olie O. Smith, she studied at the University of Illinois, where she received a master’s degree in special education for EMR students. She has the distinction of being the first certified special education teacher in Westmoreland County. She retired from teaching after 32 years, serving 18 years as a Special Education teacher, a job she loved.

Lola is a member of Galilee Baptist Church, where she engaged in many activities- President of the Missionary Circle and Senior Choir, Co-sponsor of youth activities, Deaconess, former pianist and Choir Director, former Sunday School teacher, and Deacon of the Church.

In 1989, she was elected President of the Northern Neck Women’s Commission, a position she held until 1992. She also served as the Educational Secretary of the Commission. She has served as a speaker throughout the area on many occasions. 

Her civic and community activities included being a charter member of Westmoreland County Rescue Squad, being president of the Women’s Auxiliary, being an NAACP life member, and being president of the Retired Teachers Association of Essex, Richmond, and Westmoreland Counties and Town of Colonial Beach, in which she also served as secretary.  She also was the secretary of the District A retired teachers, secretary of Riverside Tappahannock Volunteer Auxiliary, and Member of Westmoreland Weavers of the Word. She holds membership in the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club Inc (NANPW) of Middlesex Vicinity.

Lola was married to Joseph R. Graham, Jr., and they have one daughter, Vanessa, one granddaughter, Quinita, and her husband, Johnny, who gave her five great-grandchildren, Layla, Elianah, Adaiah, Nessiah, and Kamilah.

Her hobbies included reading, music, collecting bells, doing acrostic puzzles, word search puzzles, composing poems, plays and pageants, and collecting poems. 

She gives thanks to God for all her accomplishments, for she could not have done any of these things without His divine guidance and care. Her aim is to do all she can, whenever she can, wherever she can, to whom ever she can, with whatever she can.

A Service of Remembrance will be held on Wednesday, July 24 at 11AM in the sanctuary of the Galilee Baptist Church, 20461 Kings Highway, Montross, Virginia.

Interment will follow in the Galilee Baptist Church Cemetery.

Remains may be viewed from 10AM until service time on Wednesday, July 24 at Galilee Baptist Church.

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