Helen “Ma Helen” Graham

Graveside services for Helen “Ma Helen” Graham will be held Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 2 p.m. from Good Hope Cemetery with Bro. Tim Vowell and Bro. Carl Roberts officiating. Visitation will be held Thursday, February 29, 2024 from 11 a.m. until departure time at McClain-Hays Funeral Home. Mrs. Graham,93, of Philadelphia, died Sunday, February 25, 2024. Ma Helen was a native of the Laurel Hill Community of Leake County. She moved to Philadelphia in September of 1947 after she married her husband, Murlee Graham. Mrs. Helen has worn many hats in her life; wife, mother, glove factory worker, mechanic, beautician and worked at Williams Brothers for a short while. Her last position was at Philadelphia Public Schools in the cafeteria where she was known by the students as ‘’Ma Helen”. Mrs. Graham was a member of The First Assembly of God Church of Philadelphia. Survivors include her daughters, Barbara Graham Benson (Willard) and Brenda Graham Jayroe (Joe) all of Philadelphia; grand-daughters, Tanya Benson Watkins (Randy), (with whom she lived with many years prior to her death), DaRhonda Benson Fortenberry (Phillip), Briana Jayroe Brannon (Justin) and Brittany Jayroe Lewis; Many beloved grands and great-grands that she cherished every minute she had with them and oh the stories she could have shared with them, and a little great-great-granddaughter Dallas that has brighten her days the last two years; sister, Waudine Wilcher Moorehead of Philadelphia; brother, Paul Wilcher (Rhonda) of Carthage; a host of nieces and nephews. Mrs. Graham was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Murlee Graham; parents, Harvey and Lula (Jolly) Wilcher; 10 siblings and a beloved great-grand-daughter, Marlaina (Marli) Grace Watkins.