VIRGINIA BEACH — Roger O’Dean Graves, 71, left this earthly life suddenly to be with our Lord, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020. Roger was born on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 1949, in Alamance County, North Carolina, to Johnnie O’Dean and Carrie Belle Graves, where he lived until being drafted in 1969 into the U.S. Army to serve in Vietnam. He went on to serve in Korea, twice in Germany, Italy, and twice at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, making lifelong friends along the way.
In Italy, he had the honor of being asked to assist in standing up a brand new Chinook unit. Roger served proudly, attaining the rank of first sergeant, retiring in 1992 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He went on to work for Lockheed-Martin until 2002, when he moved to Virginia Beach. Roger then obtained his job of a lifetime as a golf course marshal at Honeybee, and later at Battlefield Golf Club, where he acquired a whole new love of the game and a new family.
When Roger passed away, he was officially what he always wanted to be…a golf bum. Roger loved his family, his friends, his dog Prince and his church. He never gave a little of himself, he always gave one-hundred percent of himself to anyone and everyone, helping wherever he could; he will be missed by so many.
Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Johnnie and Carrie Graves; along with brother, Clyde “Skip” Graves.
He is survived by his loving wife of 34 years, Lisa; daughters, Keisha Herbert, Kawanika Brown (Marvin), LaToya Graves and Sparkle Collins; son, Jason Jordan (Quanella); along with seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild; brothers, Theodore Graves (Barbara) and Clifton Graves (Felisia); mother-in-law, Pauline Brown; sister-in-law, Doreen Venezia; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23, at Rosewood-Kellum Funeral Home. A celebration of life service will be livestreamed at 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, via Facebook Live.
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