Mrs. Jane O'Keefe Graham, of Sumner, Miss., passed away peacefully Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. Born Sept. 25, 1933, in Clarksdale, she was the daughter of Howard Lusk O'Keefe and Jimmie Belle Kerr of Clarksdale.
The funeral service will be Thursday, Sept. 19, at 2:30 at the Episcopal Church of the Advent in Sumner. There will be a celebration immediately following the service at the Sumner Grille.
Jane, known to many as “Gigi,” graduated from Clarksdale High School and then attended Mississippi College for Women. Afterwards, she attended the University of Mississippi where she was a member of Chi Omega Sorority. Although her time at Ole Miss was brief, it was no bother to her as she ended up meeting the love of her life while attending a pool party at Buford Hall in Glendora.
After a whirlwind courtship, she soon married Edgar Graham, better known as "Bubber," on Nov. 19,1954. She was never happier than when she was by Bubber’s side.
Throughout her life, she was a strong and faithful member of the Episcopal Church of the Advent where she served as President of the Women of the Church and member of the Altar Guild. Jane loved traveling near and far, most of all spending every summer in Destin, Florida with many Delta family and friends, taking road trips to Colorado to visit friends, making countless trips to Oxford and beyond to see the Rebels play, and many places in between.
As an avid tennis player, Jane spent many days on the tennis courts playing team tennis on the USTA League. When not playing tennis, she loved spending time with her dear friends of the "Delta Sewing Club.” She was known far and wide as naturally gifted with a needle and thread and for having a remarkable eye for fashion. Because of this, she worked many years at the Four Seasons Boutique picking out just the right outfit so all her customers were always so happy. As somewhat of a fashion icon herself, she loved helping ladies with their clothes.
After the closing of the Boutique, never one to sit idle, her next venture was selling Worth Collection in trunk shows with a dear friend. Her style and ability to read people made her a master at putting together just the right outfit for her clients. Her sales put Sumner on the map among the stiff competition of much larger cities. She was a natural!
Above all of her hobbies and talents, it was her family whom she loved the most. Seeing her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren grow and thrive was what she was most proud of. She loved hearing their stories, witnessing their accomplishments, and sharing many meals with them. Her loving smile, her infectious laugh, and incredible knack for knowing everyone in a room, and making them feel so warm and welcome, are just a few of the amazing traits she possessed. She will be dearly missed.
She is survived by her three children: her sons Edgar D. Graham III of Sumner, Howard O. Graham of Madison, and daughter Jane Kerr Nance (Bob) of Oxford. She is survived by her six grandchildren; Kim Boggan (Mark) of Greenwood, H. O’Keefe Graham (Ann Morgan) of Oxford, Tan Graham Burroughs (Will) of Laurel, Edgar D. Graham IV of Grenada, Robert Nance (Kathryn) of Oxford and Graham Nance of Dallas, Texas. She is survived by her six great grandchildren Graham Boggan, Cail Boggan, Kee Graham, Gigi Graham, Ann Louise Graham and Watts Burroughs.
Jane was predeceased by her husband Edgar Dewitt Graham, Jr, her father Howard Lusk O’Keefe, and her mother Jimmie Bell Kerr.
We would like to thank Vera Moore, Baby Lee Jones, and all of her care givers who took care of Jane so wonderfully and graciously over the past years. The family is forever grateful for their service and dedication to her care.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Jane’s beloved Episcopal Church of the Advent, Post Office Box 366, Sumner, MS 38957- or by calling (662) 375-8848.
Meredith-Nowell Funeral Home in Clarksdale, is handling the arrangements.
