ROXIE — John C. Graves Jr., 83, of Clinton, formerly of Roxie, went to be at home with his heavenly Father Monday, May 3, 2010.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Roxie Baptist Church.

Burial will be at 1 p.m. at Greenlawn Cemetery under the direction of Franklin Funeral Home in Meadville.

Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home and at 10 a.m. prior to the celebration of his life at the church.

After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, J.C. graduated from Mississippi College, taught high school, became Roxie’s post master and later, rural letter mail carrier. After surrendering to preach, he pastored at Hamburg Baptist Church, Springfield Baptist Church in Adams County and Union Baptist Church in Franklin County for a total of 34 years. After retiring J.C. was honored as pastor emeritus by the Roxie Baptist Church.

He was a member of the Mississippi College National “M” Club and the Mississippi College Sports Hall of Fame.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, John Q. and Malcolm.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Mary Ann; three sons, Andy, Randy and wife, Becky, and John Paul; three grandchildren, Randy Jr. and wife, Ashley, Jonathan and Carlie; and three brothers, Charles and wife, Doris, Robert and David Earl and wife, Pat.

The family requests that donations be made to the Baptist Children’s Home, 805 N. Flag Chapel Road, Jackson, MS 39209 or SON Valley, a home for adults with mental retardation, Baptist Homes, Inc., SON Valley, P.O. Box 406, Canton, MS 39056.