Honoring William and Marie Graves
Donation protected
William and Marie Graves are an African American couple who joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1911 in Oakland, California, and remained faithful members of the Oakland Branch throughout their lives.
Marie was a dressmaker and William was a Pullman Porter. They lived on Magnolia Street in West Oakland and worshipped at the LDS chapel on MacArthur and Webster.
Marie remained faithful to her death in 1930 at age 52. William continued to attend Church after her death, until he passed in 1940, at about age 80.
The Graves are buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Oakland. Marie has a headstone, but William has no marker.
In 2018, a group of members of the Oakland First Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Friends of William and Marie Graves," began an initiative to learn more about the Graves family and honor their inspiring story. The purpose of this fundraiser is to pay for the purchase and installation of a marker at the Graves's burial site to honor their legacy of faith and testimony. We have selected a modest granite obelisk, and will include a plaque paying tribute to the Graves. It is expected to be completed and ready for installation in January 2019.
Marie was a dressmaker and William was a Pullman Porter. They lived on Magnolia Street in West Oakland and worshipped at the LDS chapel on MacArthur and Webster.
Marie remained faithful to her death in 1930 at age 52. William continued to attend Church after her death, until he passed in 1940, at about age 80.
The Graves are buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Oakland. Marie has a headstone, but William has no marker.
In 2018, a group of members of the Oakland First Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Friends of William and Marie Graves," began an initiative to learn more about the Graves family and honor their inspiring story. The purpose of this fundraiser is to pay for the purchase and installation of a marker at the Graves's burial site to honor their legacy of faith and testimony. We have selected a modest granite obelisk, and will include a plaque paying tribute to the Graves. It is expected to be completed and ready for installation in January 2019.
Organizer
Greg Call
Organizer
Oakland, CA
