EGN NEWS DESK
(CP) Jean Graham Ford, the final remaining sibling of famend evangelist Billy Graham, died final week on the age of 91, her nephew, Franklin Graham, introduced in a Facebook put up reflecting on her legacy and love for the Lord.
“My Aunt Jean cherished the Lord Jesus Christ, her household, her church and the work of God’s folks world wide. She, alongside together with her husband Dr. Leighton Ford, was at all times an important encourager to my father all through his total ministry. He sought her counsel on many points throughout his lifetime,” Graham, who leads Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, wrote.
“Aunt Jean and Leighton met at Wheaton College. Uncle Leighton went on to be a strong evangelist and was grateful for the help and loyalty of his devoted and loving spouse. The Bible speaks of godly girls who’re worthy of reward: ‘a lady who fears the Lord she shall be praised’ (Proverbs 31).”
Graham revealed his father and his aunt shared a detailed bond, shaped 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.”
Despite going through a difficult childhood, together with being stricken with polio at age 11, Jean’s religion remained unshaken, he mentioned. Graham recounted her saying that the opportunity of loss of life as a toddler didn’t trouble her a lot as she knew she was going to Heaven.
“She traced her religion again to her childhood, commenting 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 illness on the younger age of 21. Sandy’s testimony for the Lord lives on to this present day, and so does the testimony of Jean Graham Ford,” Graham continued.
“We are grateful for her life that impacted so many when she would share her testimony, saying, ‘Sometimes it is so troublesome to belief our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ, and but to me, there is no choice. That occurred to be ingrained in me, my belief in what He guarantees; my belief in who I do know Him to be.'”
Graham expressed his prayers and condolences to Leighton Ford, their son, Kevin, and daughter, Debbie, acknowledging Jean Graham Ford’s life as “well-lived.”
Billy Graham died at 99 in 2018; Catherine Graham McElroy died in 2006 at 86, and Melvin Graham died in 2003 at 78.
In 2018, Jean spoke at Billy Graham’s funeral in Charlotte.
She shared that when she heard the information of her brother’s loss of life she was reminded of the hymn, “Heaven Came Down and Filled My Soul With Glory.”
“On February the twenty first, Heaven got here down and took my brother from me,” she mentioned. “One day, Heaven will come down and take me. And I do know what [my brother] would need me to say right this moment is, ‘Heaven is coming once more and wish to take you additionally.'”
© The Christian Post
