Carolyn Farnsworth Graham

Carolyn Farnsworth Graham, age 73, of Natchitoches, La. passed away peacefully and with her loving family at her bedside on Tuesday, June 23, 2009, at Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria, La. Carolyn was born on June 18, 1936 in Sugartree, Tennessee to Dr. Clyde and Edna Farnsworth. She spent most of her earlier years in Starkville, Mississippi and Wake Forest, North Carolina. She graduated from Wake Forest University with a B.S. Degree in Music and obtained her Masters Degree in English from East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee. She taught at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock and Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Later, She was the Vice President of Claims Administration for Tennessee and Southern Corporation of Memphis, Tennessee. She also served on the board of this large Employee Benefit Firm that specialized in Self-Funded Health Plans for large Corporations. She was preceded in death by Dr. Clyde Houston Farnsworth, Sr. and Edna Elizabeth Jones Farnsworth. Carolyn loved her family, always remembering birthdays, and she enjoyed flower gardening, reading, travel, shopping, her condominium on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas and caring for her French Poodle, Cyd. She is survived by her devoted husband of 48 years, David C. Graham, Sr.; three daughters, Elycia Abrusley Gravel and husband Charles Greg of Alexandria, La., Cynthia Carol McQueen and husband Steve of Natchitoches, La., and Dana Lise Baggett and husband Mark of Little Rock, Ar.; one son, David C. Graham, Jr. and wife Rebecca of Magnolia, Ar.; one brother, Dr. Clyde Farnsworth, Jr. and wife Mary of Knoxville, Tn.; thirteen grandchildren, Erin, Brooke, Kristen, and Ashley Abrusley, Britton and Ragan McQueen, Hannah, Christopher, Drew, Tommy Baggett, Macye, Katie, and Patrick Graham. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Natchitoches until her illness. She served in the Ladies Handbell Choir of both the First Baptist and First United Methodist Churches. She was a member of the Natchitoches PEO and served in 2000 as Co-Chairperson of the Melrose Arts and Crafts Festival. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Britton and Ragan McQueen, sons-in-law, Charles Greg Gravel, Steve McQueen, Mark Baggett, and family friend Dr. Leland Scoggins. Honorary pallbearers will be Tommy Davis, Kerlin Sutton, Wally Watson, Dr. Ed Graham, Roy Graham, Stuart Graham, Johnny Possoit, Clyde Osborne, Ronald Martin and John Ropp. Funeral service will be held in the Christian Life Center of First Baptist Church, Natchitoches, at 10 AM Friday, June 26, 2009 with Rev. Tommy Rush and Rev. Perry Webb officiating under the direction of Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home. Interment will be in Memory Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches, La. Visitation will be Thursday, June 25, 2009 from 6 PM until 8 PM in the funeral home and on Friday, June 26, 2009 from 9 AM until service time in the church. The family expresses their sincere appreciation to Dr. Fredrick Hagemeister and Dr. Jan Burger and staff of the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. Howard Wold and staff at the Hematology Oncology Life Center in Alexandria and to the entire staff of the Oncology Floor of the Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria, La.