Loreda Odell Branch Graham

Loreda Odell Branch Graham was born on April 8, 1934 in Farmville, VA to John Henry Branch and Ella Hunter Smith Branch. She joined a loving and nurturing family of two brothers, Thomas and John, along with three sisters, Lottie, Hattie and Alfreda, who preceded her in death.

She joined Beaulah A.M.E. Church as a child. She graduated Valedictorian from R.R. Moton High School and during her senior year, was a member of the “Strike Committee” which organized a school boycott for improving educational facilities. This boycott developed into the “Brown vs Board of Education” case which the Supreme Court of 1954, outlawed separate school systems in the United States. She attended Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC and graduated magna cum laude, earning a BS. ED. and met the love of her life, Reverend Dr. Tecumseh X. Graham. They married and had two children, Tecumseh Jr. and Marjorie. She also became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She continued her studies at the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University, earning a M.Ed.

Mrs. Graham had several interesting career assignments such as a Migrant Child Care Assistant Director, Veterans Administrative Assistant, Deputy Clerk for U.S. District Court, Portland, OR, Pre-school Teacher and Business Education Teacher for (CPS) Cincinnati Public Schools totaling 48 years — 44 serving the Tigers at Withrow High School. She received an Outstanding Teacher Award, Distinguished Teacher Award, Com-munity Volunteer Award and Business Professionals Award.

She supported her husband in all of his church assignments from coast to coast. She taught Sunday School, sang in the choir and was a member of the Minister’s Wives and Deaconess. She became a member of St. Mark A.M.E. Zion Church in 1964 and has cherished the friendships of many people over the years. She was the First Lady at St. Mark A.M.E. Zion Church, Cincinnati, OH and the First Lady at Broadway Temple A.M.E. Zion Church in Louisville, KY.

She has a special brother (Dr. Chester Pryor) who called every day to check on her and the family for more than 50 years. She is survived by: her son, Tecumseh of Houston, TX; daughter, Marjorie of Cincinnati, OH; granddaughter, Dr. Tiffany Ostovar Kermani (Shawn) of Watertown, NY and grandson, Tecumseh III of Dallas, TX; awesome and devoted nieces and nephews, and helpful and caring neighbors, especially Mary Carol M. and Susan G.