William Graham

Elder William Gaston Graham was born Dec. 25, 1936. The eldest son of a sharecropper reigning from Raleigh, N.C., often Elder Graham would testify saying he was born one step from slavery and look how far God had brought him from. He was humbled that God took a little Black boy from the tobacco fields and anointed him to preach the Gospel.

He joined the U.S. Force on April 15, 1954. He was stationed in Austin, Texas, where he met the love of his life, Billie Joyce Bonner, at a skating rink. He called her “floor glider” because she could and loved to dance. His term of endearment for his wife remained “love of his life” and for 66 years they enjoyed the blessings of the covenant of marriage.

Pastor Graham gave his life to the Lord early in life. In Wichita, Kan., a young Bishop J.C. Gilkey invited him and his wife to a revival at Elder Alberta’s church. Elder Graham would testify that at the altar that day God visited him and changed his inside and out and he left his cigarettes on the altar, never picking them up again. Elder Graham was completely devoted to God and devoted himself to the work of the Lord with a joyful heart. In Korea from 1960-61, he worked closely with missionaries assigned by religious organizations from the United States to serve in Korea. His assignment included attending various functions and met numerous religious and political leaders. He would often talk about how he would preach to the trees in Osan, Korea, as though there were hundreds of people listening.

He was licensed to the Gospel Ministry in 1961, in the Church of God in Christ in North Carolina under the leadership of Bishop Wyoming Well. He was completely in love with the Word of God and would often instruct those he poured into to “read the word as though it was life or death to anyone who hears it because it is.”

In 1967 Elder W. G. Graham was stationed in Anchorage, Alaska, where two years later, he and his wife would be blessed to adopt their only daughter, Joyce L. Barner. In 1970, Tech Sergeant Graham received orders and was stationed in Spokane, Washington, where he later retired receiving an honorable discharge.

Elder Graham’s affiliations, community leadership and accomplishments are vast and many, including but not limited to:

• Ordained in the COGIC, Greensboro, N.C.

• Assigned by the Bishop Altheimer, Pastor of the Holy Temple COGIC, Spokane, Wash.

• Founding pastor, Refreshing Springs COGIC, Spokane, Wash.

• Washington state drivers education instructor

• Founded the first halfway house in Spokane County

• Secretary of Ordination Council, Washington State COGIC

• Pastor of Community COGIC, Moses Lake, Wash.

• President, Moses Lake Ministerial Alliance

• Moses Lake Police Department Chaplain and chaplain service for Samaritan Hospital

• Member of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Committee

• Watchcare/Interim Pastor at Galilee Baptist Church, Moses Lake, Wash.

Elder W. G. Graham was well sought after for pastoral care, offering wise counsel, prayer, jail and prison ministry, countless visits to the sick and shut-in, marriage and family counseling and services to the judicial court system. In his spare time, he loved spending time with his wife and family traveling, fishing and reading. Racquetball was his sport and physical activity of choice.

He leaves to cherish his memory and continue his legacy his wife of 66 years, Mother Billie Joyce Graham, one daughter, Joyce Barner, one son, Timothy Stiles, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives, spiritual family and friends.

“May the work I’ve done speak for me.”

The funeral service will be held Aug. 24, 2023, with viewing at 9 a.m. followed by service at 11 a.m. at Galilee Baptist Church in Moses Lake.

Please express your thoughts and memories at www.kayserschapel.com. Arrangements are under the care of Kayser’s Chapel of Memories of Moses Lake.