Clyde Arthur Graham, Sr.

Clyde A. Graham Sr. was born on October 20, 1938, in Montbrook, Florida, to the late Frank Graham and Katie Hammonds Graham.  He was the oldest of eight siblings. He received his early education in the public schools of Williston, Florida. In 1958, he graduated from Williston Vocational High School. After graduating from high school, he furthered his education at Hampton Junior College, Ocala, FL, where he obtained his Associate of Arts degree in 1960.   Following, he enlisted in the United States Army and served from 1961 to 1963. After serving in the military, he attended Bethune-Cookman University (BCU) in Daytona Beach, Florida. He graduated from BCU with a B.S. in Biology in 1968.  He continued his educational journey by earning a Master’s of Science degree from the University of Florida in 1975.   He later served in the National Guard and Reserve based in Camp Blanding, FL, where he retired as a veteran with 20 years of service.  Throughout his career as an accomplished science educator, he held various positions in the educational system.  He taught various courses in the science field, ranging from life sciences to the physical sciences.    He taught at Lincoln High School, Santa Fe High School, and Fort Clarke Middle School in the Alachua County School District. He retired from the Alachua County School Board with 35 years of dedicated service. He also taught at the Upward Bound program and on the college level as an adjunct at the Bethune-Cookman University Center.  After retirement, he continued to serve the community by working with the Job Corps in Saint Petersburg, FL. Clyde Graham, Sr., was a devout Christian and family man. He was a devoted member of the Greater Fort Clarke Missionary Baptist Church located in Gainesville, Florida.  There, he served as an ordained Deacon.   He worked tirelessly to promote the success of the youth in the local Gainesville community. He founded an outreach ministry that provided tutoring to prepare local students for state-mandated standardized tests. He was also a dedicated member of the Farmers’ Aide Society.

Clyde was preceded in death by his late first wife Joyce Gordon Graham, sister Betty Hamilton, and brothers Clarence Graham and Leroy Graham.

He leaves to cherish his memories: wife Jean Graham, daughter Tracey Graham-Henderson (Leslie), sons Stacey Graham (Pamela), Clyde Graham Jr., step-son Emil Roberson (Tracey), grandsons Leslee Henderson, Landon Henderson, Jamal Roberson, and granddaughter Jaisha Roberson.  Two sisters, Yvonne Colson (Wilbert), Vivian Bennett (Kenneth), two brothers, Lorenzo Graham(Carmen), Nathaniel Graham(Shirley), five sisters-in-law: Holland Graham, Roberta Graham, Cara Lee Stephens, Barbara Samuel(John), Carolyn Preston, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

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