Mary Graham Obituary

Mary Helen Baker Graham
10/27/1922 - 08/17/2024
Mary Helen Baker Graham died peacefully at her home in Houston on Saturday the 17th of August, 2024. She was 101 years of age.
Born in Inverness, Mississippi on the 27th of October, 1922, Mary Helen grew up in Inverness and graduated from Louisiana State University, where she studied piano and earned a degree in music. On the 16th of November, 1944, Mary Helen married the love of her life, Doyle Alex Graham, of Canton, Mississippi, a first lieutenant in the Army Air Corp. When World War II ended, Mary Helen and Doyle moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where Doyle completed his studies which had been interrupted by the war and earned a degree in hotel administration from Georgia Tech. Upon graduation, Mary Helen and Doyle moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where Doyle helped operate the Noel Hotel and Mary Helen kept busy looking after Doyle and their first child, Sherry, who was born in Nashville. She also managed to work on her golf enough to win a trophy. Mary Helen and her family left Nashville in 1952 to move to Galveston, Texas, where Doyle operated the Hotel Galvez and Mary Helen kept busy looking after Doyle and Sherry and Sherry's younger siblings, Nancy and Doyle, Jr., both born in Galveston. Mary Helen loved Galveston where she and Doyle were active members of the Artillery Club. They made many life-long friends there and thoroughly enjoyed a very active social life. One year, while living on the Island, they attended debutante parties nineteen nights in a row. Mary Helen was on the Board of Directors of the Galveston Orphans' Home, was an active member of the Junior League of Galveston and was instrumental in helping to preserve Galveston's history by working to protect many historic structures from demolition.
After Galveston, Doyle's work took the family to Dallas, Texas, Miami, Florida and then Houston, Texas. Mary Helen continued to be as active as she could while raising three children and overseeing their many extra-curricular activities. In Houston, Mary Helen was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Junior League.
Mary Helen and Doyle were long-time members of St. Luke's United Methodist Church and the River Oaks Country Club, where they were actively involved as long as they were able. Mary Helen continued to enjoy playing golf, playing the piano, dancing, and traveling for many years, with her favorite travel destinations being Canada and her vacation home in Colorado, as she truly loved the snow. Mary Helen especially enjoyed her piano because God had given her the gift of being able to play by ear, so she could happily entertain her family and friends at home or at parties. Everyone thoroughly loved listening to her play.
Mary Helen was a very caring and giving person, who always did whatever she could to help others in need, whether that be financial assistance or a listening ear. She enjoyed giving pleasure to others by making gifts to them or simply doing something nice for them. She was a very happy lady with a great sense of humor and terrific stories and people very much enjoyed her company. She enjoyed their company, as well. Most of all, she was a devout Christian woman and loved God very much. All who knew Mary Helen loved her and she will be greatly missed.
Mary Helen is survived by her daughter Sherry Lenert and Sherry's two children, Jennifer Forshee, husband Jim, children Ian and Avery; Andrew Lenert, wife Becky and children, Parker and Emmarie; daughter Nancy Barnett and Nancy's husband, George; and son, Doyle A. Graham, Jr., and Doyle, Jr.'s children, Isabelle Wagner, husband Jack and children Robert (Beau) and Peter; Frances Donaldson, husband Andrew; Doyle Alex Graham, III.
Mary Helen was preceded in death by her parents, John Clay Baker and Mary Helen Baker, and her husband, Doyle Alex Graham.
Friends are cordially invited to greet the family during a visitation from ten o'clock until eleven o'clock in the morning on Wednesday the 28th of August at the First Baptist Church of Inverness MS, 703 4th Street in Inverness, MS, where Pastor, Greg Hood, is to officiate. The funeral service is to commence at eleven o'clock in the morning. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception that is to be held at the church.
In Mary Helen's honor, memorial contributions may be directed to the First Baptist Church of Inverness MS, Inverness, Mississippi, 703 Fourth Street, Inverness, MS 38753; or the charity of one's choice.
Please visit Mary Helen's online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com where memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with her family.