Helen Anna Smith Graham of Gainesville, Florida passed away at the age of 96 on February 22, 2017, in Jacksonville, Florida. She was born on August 17, 1920 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to Leonard Charles and Florine Oliver Smith. Her family moved to Gainesville when she was 10 where she attended P.K. Young Laboratory School and later Florida State College for Women (now FSU). In 1941, she married Lewis William Graham (Bill), a lifelong resident of Gainesville, and the couple settled in Gainesville. Helen shared her husband’s passion for fishing, scalloping, and stone crabbing in the Gulf of Mexico from their base in Cedar Key. She was a passionate gardener, and was known for the beautiful roses she grew and shared with friends and neighbors. In addition to raising their three children, Helen enjoyed entertaining family and friends, bridge, golf and tennis. She participated in numerous community organizations, and served as president of the Gainesville Junior Welfare League in 1948-49. Helen’s husband of 65 years, Bill Graham, preceded her in death. She is survived by two daughters and a son: Helen Andersen (Torsten), Cashiers, North Carolina; Robin Cantrell (Heyward), Jacksonville, Florida; Lewis W. Graham, Jr. (Debby), Jacksonville, Florida. She was lovingly known as Mimi to seven grandchildren: Karen Weaver (Richmond), Greenville, South Carolina; Kathleen Smith (Tyler), Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Barbara Commander (Christopher), Jacksonville, Florida; Carolyn Snowden (Andrew), Jacksonville, Florida; Lewis William Graham, Ill, Justin, Texas; Beth DeLong (Jed), Augusta, Georgia; Ellen Smith (Garrett), Atlanta, Georgia and fifteen great-grandchildren: Ryan, Alex, and Kate Weaver; Ethan and Holden Smith; Christopher, Jr, William, Helen, and Emily Commander; Robin and Hallie Snowden; Graham and Matthew DeLong; Eliza and Bradford Smith. The immediate family will gather for a graveside service to be held at a later date at Evergreen Cemetery, Gainesville, Florida. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Helen’s name to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32257. Arrangements by Naugle Schnauss Funeral Home, 808 Margaret Street Jacksonville, Fl 32204 (904) 683-9288
