Rogers Yates McGraw Sr., Woodville

1928 - 2007

WOODVILLE — Services for Rogers Yates McGraw Sr., 79, a life long resident of Woodville, who died Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2007, at Natchez Community Hospital, will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Woodville Baptist Church with the Rev. Howard Peak and the Rev. Bernard Waites officiating.

Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, in Woodville, under the direction of Newman Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home and from 9 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church.

Mr. McGraw was born April 20, 1928, the son of Robert West and Lavada Flowers McGraw. He was a self-employed contractor. He was a member , deacon and Sunday school teacher at Woodville Baptist Church as well as a member of Promise Keepers. Mr. McGraw was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and an avid outdoorsman.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Susan Angela Rutkowski; and brother, Robert McGraw.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Jo McGraw of Woodville; daughters, Betty Diane Ashley and husband, Lemire, both of Katy, Texas and Leah Jo Nations and husband, Randy, both of Natchez; sons, Mike McGraw and wife, Karen, both of Woodville and Yates McGraw and wife, Pam, both of Lake Concordia; brothers, Roy McGraw and wife, Billie, both of Denham Springs, La. and Jimmy McGraw and wife, Carolyn, both of Amite, La.; 13 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Adam Ryan, Stuart Ashley, Benjamin Ashley, John McGraw, Morgan Ryan and Alton Guidrey.