The late Allyson McGraw was defined by a love that transcended family and friends to permeate deeply into her community, as was made loud and clear during her Celebration of Life Ceremony at the Old Union County Courthouse on Jan. 25.
McGraw, 75, passed away Dec. 1 following a brief illness, leaving behind a colorful legacy painted with an outstanding amount of love and dedication. Everyone in attendance could agree that while the pain of her passing is great, all who cared for her are better for having known her.
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Born on Jan. 10, 1949, to Vivian Stephens and Claude Cook Jr. in LaGrange, McGraw later attended the University of Georgia and earned a master’s degree in Family and Consumer Science.
In 1984, she and her husband Charles “Charlie” McGraw Jr. moved to Blairsville to open the Appalachian Locksmith Service; she had no idea how much of a presence they would become in their new community.
Until she retired in 1996, McGraw served as a UGA extension agent in multiple counties, including in Union, where she met now-retired ag agent Mickey Cummings and worked with local students – like Harmony Grove Baptist Pastor Scotty Jarrard – through the 4-H program.
Cummings and Jarrard offered some of their fondest memories of McGraw, which intersected with the county extension office.
For example, Jarrard associates the 4-H pledge with the way McGraw lived, noting how she devoted her head to clearer thinking, her heart to greater loyalty, her hands to greater service and her health to better living.
“She’s instilled these things in all of us,” Jarrard said. “We are so blessed to have such a giant in our lives.”
Cummings shared stories of McGraw caring for students, whether that meant imparting wisdom or making sure they had a ride to and from 4-H camp. She gave freely of her time, her finances and her advice as needed.
With her involvement in multiple nonprofit organizations, some of McGraw’s cohorts also appeared and offered words of support and memories that elicited tears and laughter alike.
For her part, Sue Upchurch, who worked extensively alongside McGraw in the Union County Relay For Life effort of the American Cancer Society, remembers her friend as a fiercely caring individual dedicated to community.
Freya Jones agreed, sharing that she met McGraw 30 years ago when she started working for the University of Georgia. Jones will be forever grateful for McGraw’s support during difficult times and the care McGraw showed for her own children.
“I miss her terribly,” Jones admitted, adding, “She was gone too soon, but my life has been forever enriched, and I will be forever grateful that I had Allyson McGraw.”
An emphatic cry of “amen” came from the audience at that statement.
Years ago, McGraw helped Jeanne Tallent make the Glenda Gooch House a reality for families facing some of the most difficult days of their lives. Tallent befriended McGraw when she first moved to Blairsville, and the two remained lifelong friends who supported each other through personal hardship – especially when McGraw lost her husband.
“I couldn’t stand the thoughts of Allyson being home alone at Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I called her up and told her to come eat with us, and she went several times,” Tallent recalled.
Kathie McMillan of the Blairsville Kiwanis Club revealed that McGraw had been on her second term as president – an unusual but welcome feat. Typically, leaders only take one term, but “no” wasn’t in McGraw’s vocabulary, enabling her to gladly serve another, McMillan said.
Kathryn Nelson shared memories of McGraw helping her establish Isaiah 1:17 House in Union County. As she did with most of her endeavors, McGraw approached the challenge with gusto, eager to introduce children in need to love.
She attended meetings until physical limitations prevented her from doing so, but Nelson noted that McGraw continued to support the group by bringing gifts to case workers.
McGraw’s family members also made an appearance, such as her grandson Michael McGraw of Gainesville, who tearfully thanked everyone for welcoming his grandparents with open arms, and in doing so, becoming an extended part of the family.
“On the day she died, we sat in that waiting room saying, ‘We should have done more to make her move back south,’” said Michael, expressing a desire to have the family care for their matriarch. “Listening to what all of you have said today tells me Hell would have froze over before we got her out of here.”
According to McGraw’s obituary, “During her career and life in North Georgia, Allyson was an instrumental volunteer in many professional and civic organizations, including The American Cancer Society, 4H Club, Relay for Life, American Heart Association, and Habitat for Humanity among many more.
“She was on the council for the Georgia Mountain Research and Education Center and the Union County Retired Educators Association as well as a founding member of The Glenda Gooch House.
“At the time of her passing, Allyson was President of the local Kiwanis Club for the past three years and was President of the Union County Retired Educators for the last two years.”
