Rev. Art (Varney Arthur) Graves

Reverend Varney Arthur "Art" Graves It is with great sadness that our family announces the passing of our dear husband, dad, and papa, Reverend Varney Arthur "Art" Graves. Varney Arthur Graves was born in Wilmington, Delaware on October 20, 1935 and passed from this world on the afternoon of November 6, 2016 (All Saints Day in the United Methodist Church). Art was ordained in full connection with the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1966. He served the people of North Georgia with his whole heart and being. Prior to ordination he served his country as a United States Marine from 1953 - 1956. During his ministerial career he served ten different churches: Trinity United Methodist Church (UMC) in LaGrange, GA; St. Paul UMC in Atlanta, GA; Grace UMC, Atlanta GA; Thomson 1st UMC, Thomson, GA; Tuckston UMC, Athens, GA; Graysville UMC, Graysville, GA; Trion UMC, Trion, GA; LaFayette 1st UMC, LaFayette, GA; Eaton UMC, Eaton, GA; and Fisher's Chapel UMC, Summerville, GA. Art was preceded in death by his grandparents, Wiley and Minnie Graves (a strong influence in his life), Walter and Beulah Bartlett; parents, Varney A and Mary Bartlett Graves, and brother-in-law Donald Baker. Art is survived by his family who have been deeply blessed by his love and Godly example: Sylvia Frances Sajem Graves, his devoted wife of 54 years, his brother Walter Graves (Jane), and sisters Emily Edwards (Robert), Kris Rouben (Jim), and Andi Baker; as well as, his daughter Vanessa Elise Graves Schuler, his sons Marshall Art Keith Graves (Sally) and Gerald Glenn Graves; and, his grandchildren Mara Gabrielle Schuler, Brandon Ellis Schuler, Rebecca Michal Schuler, Joshua Arthur Graves, Kaitlyn Paige Graves, Lindsey Walston (David), Nathan Vega, Brenan Vega (Bridgette), Godson Newton McCurdy and, "Child of Compassion" Sulmy Anedith Martinez Gomez in Guatemala. The family requests your presence on Thursday, November 10, 2016 for a Celebration of Life Service to be held at Trion UMC at 3:30pm and will receive guests following the service. (Trion UMC, 17 DeForest Ave, Trion, GA 30753; www.trionumc.org) The Interment Service will be held prior to the Celebration of Life Service. For interested family and friends, a processional will depart Coffman's Funeral Home at 1:30pm for the Interment Service being held at Fisher's Chapel UMC at 2:00pm. (Coffman's Funeral Home, 12855 US-27, Summerville, GA 30747; www.coffmanfh.net) The family is accepting flowers for the service, and request that memorial gifts be made to either the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) or the Fisher's Chapel Building Fund 1 - United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR): online through umcor.org, call 1-800-554-8583; mail checks to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087; or at your local United Methodist church. Mark checks: "In Memory of Rev. Art Graves". 2 - FIsher's Chapel Buidling Fund: Make checks payable to Fisher's Chapel UMC marked "In Memory of Rev. Art Graves" Fisher's Chapel UMC, 7335 Dry Creek Rd, Summerville, GA 30747

Thursday, November 10, 2016 3:30 PM

Trion United Methodist Church 810 Pine Street Trion, Georgia 30753