(CP) Jean Graham Ford, the final remaining sibling of famed evangelist Billy Graham, died final week on the age of 91, her nephew Franklin Graham introduced in a Fb put up reflecting her legacy and love for the Lord.
“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 all the time an ideal encouragement to my father all through his ministry. He sought her recommendation on many points all through his life ,” wrote Graham, who heads Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Affiliation.
“Aunt Jean and Leighton met at Wheaton School. Uncle Leighton turned a strong evangelist and was grateful for the assist and loyalty of his trustworthy and loving spouse. The Bible speaks of godly ladies who deserve reward: “a lady who fears the Lord will praised” (Proverbs 31).
Graham revealed that his father and his aunt shared an in depth bond that fashioned of their early years on the household dairy farm in Charlotte, North Carolina, the place Jean was the youngest of 4 kids born to Frank and Morrow Graham. She was 14 years youthful than Billy Graham, whom she known as “Billy Frank”.
Regardless of a troublesome childhood, together with contracting polio at age 11, Jean's religion remained unshakable, he mentioned. Graham mentioned of her that the potential of dying in childhood didn’t trouble her 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,'” he mentioned.
“She exemplified this when her and Leighton's oldest son, Sandy, died of a uncommon coronary heart situation on the younger age of 21. Sandy's testimony for the Lord lives on in the present day, as does Jean Graham Ford's,” continued Graham. .
“We’re grateful for her life that affected so many individuals when she shared her testimony when she mentioned: 'Typically it’s so laborious to entrust my life to the Lord Jesus Christ and but there isn’t any choice for me. This has grow to be ingrained in me, my confidence in what he guarantees; my confidence in who I do know him to be.'”
Graham supplied his prayers and condolences to Leighton Ford, their son Kevin and daughter Debbie, acknowledging that Jean Graham Ford's life was “properly lived”.
Billy Graham died aged 99 in 2018; Catherine Graham McElroy died in 2006 aged 86 and Melvin Graham died in 2003 aged 78.
In 2018, Jean spoke at Billy Graham's funeral in Charlotte.
She mentioned that when she heard the information of her brother's dying, she remembered the hymn “Heaven Got here Down and Crammed My Soul with Glory.”
“On February 21, Heaven got here down and took my brother from me,” she mentioned. “At some point heaven will come down and take me. And I do know what.” [my brother] I want I may say that in the present day is, 'Heaven is coming once more and want to take you too.'”
© The Christian Publish
