Fred Lee Graham

On December 30, 2024, God sent an angel to bring back one of His own: Fred Lee Graham. He was 82 years old. Our beloved Fred was born on July 12, 1942, in Bucksport, South Carolina, and was the oldest son of the late Leo and Ella Frazier Graham. Our Bucksport community mourns the loss of an extraordinary man, and if you were blessed to spend time with Fred, you observed his wittiness and his keen ability to think critically—he was a brilliant man! As we stand on his shoulders, we give honor, love, and respect to a life well lived by Fred Lee Graham.

Early Years – Education & Family:

Growing up in Bucksport, Fred was an avid reader, and he graduated from Whittemore High School in 1959 at the age of 16 years old. He was a high achiever, and his intellectual abilities were illustrated throughout his life. In the Spring of 1962, he moved to Newark, New Jersey, looking for career opportunities so he could provide a quality life for his family. In the fall of 1963, Fred married the love of his life, Ruthenia Sherman. They were married for fifty-two years, and their union was blessed with two beautiful daughters: Vernessa and Tracey.

Making History – Breaking Color Lines:

Destined for greatness, Fred made history when he broke color lines as he earned a position as the first African American Maintenance Engineering Supervisor at the Switzerland-based pharmaceutical company Hoffmann-La Roche. Despite the social inequalities he would face on his path, he advanced his career at the pharmaceutical company, where he managed over 25 men from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Fred was always the first person to show up for work, and his team admired his leadership and excellent work ethic. He led his team with grit and determination, and as a visionary, he was honored with many leadership awards, including his most prestigious one: “Man of the Year.” Fred’s leadership abilities continued to flourish as he coached a baseball team at his company for many years. He worked at Hoffmann-La Roche for 27 years and retired in 2002. Since his retirement, Hoffmann-La Roche has grown into one of the world's leading healthcare companies, no doubt in part due to Fred’s dedication and leadership to the company.

Core Values & The Most Worshipful King William Grand Lodge:

It is important to highlight that Fred’s core values were inherited from his parents’ training. Ella and Leo Graham emphasized hard work, grit, and tenacity. When Fred was not working, you could find him in his recliner, legs crossed, reading The Sun News, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and/or the New York Times—these are just a few newspapers he read daily, and he was well versed on many topics. While living in Newark, New Jersey, he was an active member of the The Most Worshipful King William Grand Lodge. The Masonic Brotherhood community gave him tools to become a better version of himself, embracing values of service and compassion. When he moved back to Bucksport, he brought the knowledge he learned from the Masonic Fraternity and joined the Distinguished Men of Bucksport, serving as the secretary for this respectable local organization. He also played a major role in creating an initiative for acknowledging the widowers in the Bucksport community.

Church and Family:

Fred devoted his life to Christ and was a member of Salem AME Church, serving as a Trustee and member of the Finance committee for many years. Left to keep Fred’s legacy alive are his first-born daughter Vernessa Graham of Texas; his “baby girl” Dr. Tracey Graham-Beaty (Dewayne) of Myrtle Beach; his grandchildren, Serena Dyson and Richard Vernon Dyson of Texas; his great-grandson Calvin Levii Towns; his brothers, Lonzel Graham (Jessie) of Greenville, Ali “Jimmy” Muhammad (Kareemah) of Atlanta, and Glenn Graham of Bucksport; his sisters, Vivian Miller and Gwendolyn “Sally” Mishoe of Bucksport, and Maybelline (Alan) Sears of Atlanta; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Fred was preceded in death by his wife, Ruthenia Sherman Graham, with whom he is finally reunited in heaven. Fred’s legacy, exemplified by his brilliance and compassion for others, will continue to inspire and guide all of us.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at Salem AME Church.  Interment will follow in the Owens Cemetery.  There will be a viewing from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Friday, January 10, 2025, at Ocean View Funeral Home and Beach Crematory, Conway Chapel.

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