Carolyn Alma Graves

Carolyn Alma Graves, a long-timer resident of Alexandria, Virginia, passed away on August 23, 2022, at age 96, of natural causes at Leewood Healthcare Center. She was born on July 9, 1926 in Buena Vista, Virginia to Troy O’Brien Graves and Middie Alma Ridings Graves. She is preceded in death by her brother Walker Hite Graves, sisters Mildred Ann Franceschi and Virginia Graves Brandon. She is survived by eight of her nine nieces and nephews. Carolyn graduated from EC Glass High School in 1944 before attending the Richmond Professional Institute of the College of William and Mary and graduating in 1948. Carolyn completed two Master's Degrees, one in 1953 in Speech and Drama and another in Library Science in the 1960's at the Peabody Institute at Vanderbilt University. In her time, Carolyn was a trailblazer. She worked for Army Special Services in Japan and arranged USO shows for servicemen overseas. Ever the adventurer, she went on to be a librarian in West Germany before returning to the states to serve as a librarian at Fort Richardson in Alaska. She moved to Alexandria in 1981 and worked as a librarian at Fort Belvoir until her retirement. She lived in Alexandria until moving into an assisted living care center in 2020. While Carolyn was known for her pioneering spirit and quick wit, it is her unmatched loyalty to those that she knew and loved that will be missed most. While having no children of her own, many of her nieces and nephews describe her as a second mother or grandmother. She was someone who you could always call and would be there to support you through anything. While her talents led her on many travels, it was her love for family that brought and kept her home, although she would have never told anyone that. A visitation will be held at Jefferson Funeral Chapel, 5755 Castlewellan Dr., Alexandria, Virginia on Saturday, September 3rd from 3:00-5:00 pm. A graveside service will be held at the Presbyterian Cemetery, 2020 Grace Street, Lynchburg, Virginia on Monday, September 5th at 12:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to a charity of your choosing, or to Carolyn’s favorite, the United Service Organizations (USO).

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Carolyn Alma Graves

July 9, 1926 - August 23, 2022