Anne Williams Graves
Anne Williams Graves Born in New Haven, CT on Jul. 23, 1927 Departed on May 10, 2010 and resided in Tuckahoe, NY. Anne Williams Graves, 82, passed away Monday morning, May 10, 2010 at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY after courageously fighting illness. She was an avid reader and a spirited daily walker, whose tireless and all-weather appearances made her a neighborhood legend. Deeply loved and missed, Anne offered perception, understanding and unconditional acceptance to family and friends. Most recently of Tuckahoe, NY, she was formerly of Lynchburg, VA, Auburndale, MA, and New Haven, CT. Born on July 23, 1927 in New Haven, Connecticut, Anne was the youngest daughter of the late Marshall Henry and Henrietta Williams (English). She graduated from The Foote School in New Haven, was a proud member of the Class of 1944 at The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, NY, and continued her education at Vassar College. Anne spent many happy summers at Indian Neck in Branford, CT, Camp Wyonegonic in Denmark, ME, and at her family home in Watch Hill, RI. She was an intelligent and loyal administrative assistant, and in retirement she volunteered her skills at the American Red Cross, the Lynchburg Depressive Disorders Association, with elementary school children, and as a founding member of the OCD Foundation. Throughout her life, Anne touched people with her kindness, honesty, and dignity. Anne was the adoring mother of three children and their spouses: Thomas Ashley Graves, III, and his wife Elizabeth Wofsey Graves; Stephen Dana Graves and his wife Linda Dockey Graves; and Mary English Graves Vonnegut and her husband Norbert J. Vonnegut. Anne was the loving grandmother of four grandchildren: Jeremiah Theodore Graves, Marshall Benjamin Graves, Wynn Howland Vonnegut, and Dana Senderling Vonnegut; and two step-grandchildren: Julia Frances Kleinman and Alexander Scott Kleinman. Anne is survived by many nieces, nephews, and dear friends. A brother, Dr. Marshall Henry Williams, Jr., and a sister, Margaret Williams Casanova, predeceased her. A Memorial Service in celebration of Anne's life will be held on Friday, July 23, 2010 at 11:30 a.m. in the Engish family plot at the Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven, CT.
Ann was a part of our Congregation from what I understand back in the early days of the Kirk. Like myself, she was a native of Ct. & will certainly be missed by all those who knew her. So I wanted to take this opportunity as both Pastor of the Kirk, as well as Board Chair of LACIL (Lynchburg Area Center for Independent Living) to offer our condolences to her family & to thank the Lord for a life well lived. In Christ, Rev. Al Stewart The Kirk
Anne lived in Lynchburg, VA from 1991 to 2001. During her time here, Anne’s generosity through the Lynchburg Depressive Disorders Association (LDDA) helped 100’s if not 1000’s of people with disabilities and senior citizens with modest incomes obtain prescription medications and other medical needs not covered by insurance. In 2007, LDDA dissolved as a corporation with its limited assets given to the Lynchburg Area Center for Independent Living. As such LACIL, is a non-residential 501 c 3 tax exempt charity who helps people with disabilities (infants to 100+) live outside of nursing homes and other institutions. See online http://www.lacil.org as well as facebook page. My wife and I as co-founders of LDDA have made a contribution to LACIL PO Box 12206 Lynchburg, VA 24506 in honor of Anne W. Graves.
Please accept my sympathy and prayers. I am sorry for your loss. I remember Anne from her time in Lynchburg when she would sometimes visit our church, The Kirk, to worship with us on Sundays. May your memories of the good times you shared bring you peace.
I met Anne when she was a customer here at Billy Craft Honda back in the 90’s. She was a loyal and faithful Honda customer. She referred numerous customers to me in the years that she lived in Lynchburg. She would call me to say they were coming and would I please take care of them, which I assured her I would. I would send her a fruit basket, which she loved, for every customer that she sent me. I can remember one car that she bought for her grandson in the Va Beach area and she wanted me to personally deliver the car, so I was happy to do so for her. She was a very .giving. person. It made her so happy to see others happy. She always took the time to ask how my family was doing. Specifically my daughter, who was young at the time. Anne would always get her a Christmas present and drop it off with me at work. We really did appreciate her kindness and giving nature. I offer the family my deepest sympathy. I know she will be missed. God bless you all in this time of sorrow.