Jean Graham Ford, the final surviving sibling of the Reverend Billy Graham, has died, the household has introduced. She was 91.
Ford is remembered for her sturdy religion within the Lord and her love of household and neighborhood.
“My Aunt Jean beloved the Lord Jesus Christ, her household, her church, and the work of God's folks all through the world. Alongside together with her husband, Dr. Leighton Ford, she was at all times an awesome encouragement to my father all through his ministry.” All through his life, he sought her recommendation on many points,” stated evangelist Franklin Graham.
Ford had been ill since December and died Thursday morning after struggling a stroke, The Charlotte Ledger stories.
She was the youngest of 4 Graham kids and was 14 years youthful than Billy Graham, whom she affectionately referred to as “Billy Frank”.
Ford contracted polio at age 11, paralyzing her throat, however she didn't let that cease her religion in Christ.
“Even at the moment in her younger life and confronted with the opportunity of demise as a toddler, she typically stated that it wouldn't hassle her. [to die] a lot as a result of she knew she was going to heaven. She traced her religion again to childhood, noting that Jesus 'was a part of our household,'” Graham remembers.
She went on to attend Wheaton School, the place she met her husband, Leighton Ford. He’s described as a “highly effective evangelist” who has served as an affiliate evangelist with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Affiliation (BGEA) for 3 many years.
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Franklin Graham recalled that Leighton remained grateful for the help of his loving and devoted spouse, particularly after they misplaced their eldest baby, Sandy, in 1981 to coronary heart surgical procedure. He was 21 years previous.
“We determined that night time,” she stated in an interview years later about her son's demise. “God is nice… Even once we didn't really feel prefer it.
In 1985, the couple based Leighton Ford Ministries, the place she grew to become an evangelist.
And she or he by no means shied away from sharing her religion.
In 2018, Jean spoke at Billy Graham's funeral in Charlotte.
She shared that when she heard the information of her brother's demise, she remembered the hymn “Heaven Got here Down and Stuffed My Soul with Glory.”
“On February 21, Heaven got here down and took my brother from me,” she informed the funeral attendees. “In the future heaven will come down and take me. And I do know what.” [my brother] I want I may say that as we speak is, 'Heaven is coming once more and want to take you too.'”
Franklin Graham shared that his aunt's testimony for the Lord lives on.
“We’re grateful for her life that affected so many individuals when she shared her testimony when she stated: 'Typically it’s so tough to entrust my life to the Lord Jesus Christ and but there isn’t any choice for me. This has change into ingrained in me, my confidence in what he guarantees; my confidence in who I do know him to be.'”
“We are going to miss him on this life, however collectively we sit up for eternity within the presence of our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord,” he concluded.
Billy Graham, the oldest of 4 kids, died on the age of 99 in 2018. Catherine Graham McElroy died in 2006 on the age of 86 and Melvin Graham died in 2003 on the age of 78.
Jean is survived by her husband Leighton, her son Kevin and daughter Debbie.
2018: Billy Graham dies at age 99, leaving an eternal legacy of world-changing evangelism
