Lenoir (Beauford) Graham

Lenoir Beauford Graham of Manassas, Virginia, passed on July 10, 2024. She was born on December 27, 1959, in Alvin, South Carolina, to Mr. Earl and the late Phoebe Nelson Beauford. Lenoir grew up in a loving and supportive family. Family was everything to her. She gave her life to Christ at the age of 12 in 1971 at Liberty Reformed Episcopal Church in Jamestown, South Carolina.

Lenoir was educated in the Berkeley County School System and a 1978 graduate of Macedonia High School. She was a high school basketball point guard and made all conferences in her region.  In August 1978, Lenoir enrolled in Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina, and received a BA in Elementary Education in 1982. This is where she met the love of her life and life partner, Theodore “Ted” Graham.

On July 17, 1982, Ted and Lenoir were united in Holy Matrimony shortly before they traveled to his first duty station in the United States Army at Fort Hood, Texas. To this union they were blessed with two beautiful children, a daughter, Sheena Janay Graham and a son, Isaiah Rashad Graham.  Throughout their travels in the military Ted and Lenoir fellowshipped with several chapels/churches in Germany and the United States.  In July 1997, the family moved from Heidelberg, Germany to Manassas, Virginia, where they joined a true family church, First AME Church of Manassas, Virginia, with a loving shepherd, Rev. Ronald A. Boykin.  Lenoir was an active member of F.A.M.E. and served on the Usher Board, the Missionary Society (served as President), Lay Organization (served as 1st Vice President), and the Stewardess Board. Lenoir enjoyed traveling to women’s retreats, District Conferences and General Conferences.

Lenoir started her career with the federal government in 1984 as a GS-3 File Clerk and with hard work and mentorship from some of her superiors, was eventually promoted to Director of Human Resources for Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) and then Educator Workforce Strategy Advisor. She was employed with the Department of Defense for a total of 38 years. Lenoir worked hard, had a stellar career and retired on December 30, 2022. She was extremely fortunate to have made a lot of friends that have been with her throughout her career and her illness.

Lenoir loved traveling to high school, college, WNBA and NBA basketball games with her husband. They attended the Women’s ACC Basketball Tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina, for almost 10 years until her health declined.  Lenoir’s overall favorite pastime was living her husband’s dream of owning and traveling in their RV.  She especially enjoyed the time that her family would spend together “glamping” in the RV. She really loved the excitement their youngest grandchildren expressed when they knew that they were going to be in “the RV”.

During her illness, Lenoir fought the good fight. She encouraged and mentored many people in similar situations as hers and never felt sorry for herself. She was always willing to lend a helping hand to friends and family. She never met a stranger that she wasn’t willing to help. She was an honest person and would tell you just what was on her mind.  Her response to her illness was always “I’m good! God has been so good to me!”

Lenoir was preceded in death by her lovely mother Phoebe Beauford, stepson Corey White, half-brothers Leon Beauford and David Allen.

Lenoir leaves to cherish her memory her devoted and loving husband of 42 years, Theodore Graham; her children: Sheena Graham and Isaiah (Gerrica) Graham; her grandchildren: Dante White, Olivia White, Ariah Graham and Amir Graham; her father, Rev. Earl Beauford; sister and second mother to her children, Melissa (Stanley) Stewart; brothers: Dr. Wayne (Janet) Beauford, Hon Percy Beauford; half-brother, Levant (Hernetha) Goodman; and half-sister, Tanzy Milligan; brothers-in-law: Robert Myers, Michael (Lisa) Graham; sister-in-law, June Graham; aunts: Lillie Nelson, Leona (Leroy) Bennet, Elaine Doctor, Delores Rowlette, Sylvia (Bill) Smith, Freedonia Hawkins, Ginger (Joseph) Hamilton; uncles: Thomas Beauford, Coy (Omelia) Rogers; special cousin, Patricia Ann Young; adopted sister, Tina Beauford Dickerson, and a-host of other special nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
Love you ALL!!

Family will receive friends on Saturday, July 20, 2024, from 9 am until 10 am, with funeral services starting at 10 am at First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Manassas, 10313 South Grant Ave., Manassas, Virginia, 20110.  Rev. Dr. Etoria V. Goggins will deliver the eulogy.

Services will be live streamed at 9:45 am at: https://famechurch.com/live-stream/
 

Lenoir's interment is scheduled for Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 2 pm, at Arlington National Cemetery.  The interment will be Live Streamed.  The video should start about 15 minutes before the scheduled start time.  You may see a test pattern like color bars before the video starts.  The link will stay active after the service allowing for playback.

https://my.anc.media/3AcFiYG

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