The final surviving sibling of the late evangelist Billy Graham died final week on the age of 91.
Jean Graham Ford had been in declining well being since final December and died Thursday morning of a stroke.
“My Aunt Jean beloved the Lord Jesus Christ, her household, her church, and the work of God's individuals all through the world. Alongside along with her husband, Dr. Leighton Ford, she was all the time a fantastic encouragement to my father all through his ministry.” All through his life, he sought her recommendation on many points,” Evangelist Franklin Graham wrote on Fb.
In keeping with CBN Information, Jean, the youngest of 4 siblings, had a 14-year age distinction with Billy Graham, whom she referred to as “Billy Frank.” Their different siblings, Catherine Graham McElroy and Melvin Graham died in 2006 and 2003 on the age of 78.
When she was 11 years outdated, Jean's throat grew to become paralyzed on account of polio.
“Even at the moment in her younger life and confronted with the potential for dying 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 later attended Wheaton School, the place she met her husband, Leighton Ford. Ford, who’s described as a “highly effective evangelist” and served as an affiliate evangelist with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Affiliation (BGEA) for 30 years.
Franklin Graham recalled how his late aunt supported Leighton after their firstborn, Sandy, died of coronary heart surgical procedure when he was 21.
“We determined that night time,” she stated years later in an interview about her son's dying. “God is nice… Even after we didn't really feel prefer it.
In 1985, the couple based Leighton Ford Ministries, the place she served as an evangelist.
Jean additionally gave remarks at Billy Graham's funeral in Charlotte in 2018. At the moment, she advised attendees that listening to the information of her brother's dying reminded her of 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 stated. “In the future heaven will come down and take me. And I do know what.” [my brother] I want I may say that at this time is, 'Heaven is coming once more and wish to take you too.'”
Franklin Graham stated he’s grateful for what God has achieved in his aunt's life.
“We’re grateful for her life that has affected so many individuals when she shared her testimony and stated, 'Generally it’s so arduous to entrust our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ and but there isn’t a possibility for me. It grew to become ingrained in me, my belief in what he guarantees; my confidence in who I do know him to be.'”
“He can be missed on this life, however collectively we sit up for eternity within the presence of our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord,” he concluded.
Jean is survived by her husband, her son and daughter.
Picture credit score: ©Getty Pictures / Brian Blanco / Stringer
Milton Quintanilla is a contract author and content material creator. He’s a contributor to Christian Headlines and host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast dedicated to sound doctrine and biblical fact. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
