Genie Keith Graham

Genie Keith Graham of Fairhope, Alabama, passed away peacefully at his home on March 7, 2021, surrounded by his family. He was born to parents William Eugene and Norma Kate Graham on October 16, 1938, in Decatur, Mississippi. He graduated from Beulah Hubbard High and East Central Junior College, after which he joined the Naval Air Candidate Program, where he earned his Navy Pilot wings in Pensacola, Florida. Education was always a priority for Gene as he continued his studies during his career at the Naval Postgraduate School and earned his MBA from George Washington University. While attending flight school in Pensacola, he met his life’s love, Jerry Lynn Brown of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and they were married on February 22, 1960. For the next 25 years, Gene and Jerry lived throughout the US, as he flew varying patrol aircraft, culminating in command of a Maritime Patrol (P-3) squadron, VP 24 in Jacksonville, Florida. His Navy career included tours in USS INDEPENDENCE (CV-62) and several senior staff roles at the Pentagon in Washington DC. He retired from the US Navy as a Captain (O-6) in 1983. Following the Navy, Gene began his career as an Information Technology executive at Electronic Data Systems (EDS). Following a successful civilian career at EDS and several smaller firms, he and Jerry retired to Fairhope, Alabama in 2003. Never one to sit idle, he continued to support his community as a member of SCORE, a non-profit dedicated to educating and mentoring small businesses. He was also active in the Fairhope Rotary and involved at Fairhope United Methodist Church. Family and the church were the foundation of his life, and he was the proud father of three children, five grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. Time with his family and friends was a constant joy in his life, as was his service to the church. He was the “cornerstone” of his family and stayed connected to his mother and father, aunts, uncles, and his brothers and sister. Gene’s engagement with family, friends and community set an example of what it meant to live life and be present and available. Gene is survived by his wife, Jerry Lynn, as well as his daughter Julia LaNé Kane and her husband Jeff and children Emily and Joe, his grandson Caleb Scout Graham, his son John Keith Graham and wife Margaret and their children Scott, and wife Megan, and Sarah Hesskamp and husband Dustin and his great-granddaughter Amelia Grace. Brothers John Graham, James Graham, and sister Charlotte Nabors. Gene was preceded in death by his oldest daughter Audrey Lynn Graham, his parents, and brothers Jerry Ray and Bennie Joe. The memorial will be a family service at Fairhope United Methodist Church on April 2nd, and his final resting place will be at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to the Fairhope Point Clear Rotary Youth Club.