Wallace Sylvester Gragg, Jr.

Wallace Sylvester Gragg, Jr.

1926-2018

Wallace Sylvester Gragg, Jr. 91, of Chapel Hill passed away at his daughter and son-in-law’s home in Chapel Hill on July 25, 2018 following several years of declining health.

Born September 19, 1926 in Black Mountain, North Carolina he was the fourth of six children born to Wallace S. Gragg, Sr. and Ruby Kerlee Gragg. On January 31, 1944 he married Esta Beatrice Honeycutt and over a marriage of 72 happy years they reared three children. As a member of America’s truly finest generation, he served in the US Army in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War in which he was stationed, as part of the 32nd Infantry, in Korea and Japan. Following his military service, he resumed his employment at Swannanoa Laundry and then lastly for 25 years with the Southern (later Norfolk and Southern) Railway in the Asheville Division. He retired in 1991. He raised cattle, horses and several beloved special dogs. He never ate from the bread of idleness and was happiest when he was a Christian witness and servant to others. He was a former member of Craven Street Baptist and Westwood Baptist churches in Asheville and Arden First Baptist Church-serving in the choir and as deacon. After moving to the Chapel Hill area from Arden in 2004 he joined Mt. Carmel Baptist Church where he was a member of the Sanctuary Choir and the Martin Sparrow Class.

Survivors are two daughters and their spouses, Priscilla G. Farr (Jim) of Longview, Texas and Teresa Modlin Perdue (Michael) of Chapel Hill, daughter-in-law Marcia Cohn Gragg of Alpharetta, Georgia and one sister Scotland Gragg of Golden, Colorado. Seven grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren also survive as well as his two “pups” Molly and Lexie.

Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, August 4, 2018 at 1:00PM at Mount Carmel Baptist Church, 2016 Mount Carmel Church Road, Chapel Hill, NC with Rev. Barrett Freeman and Rev. Dr. Virginia Taylor presiding. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will follow the burial in the MCBC fellowship hall.

While flowers are appreciated the family request that memorials may be made to the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina, P.O. Box 38, Thomasville, NC 27631-0338.

The Gragg family would like to express their appreciation to Dr. Jonathan Williams for his care, love and kindness to Mr. Gragg over the past several years. Three outstanding nurses have truly made Mr. Gragg feel special on each visit, Donna Goddard, Susan Betze, and Beth Roberts.

Condolences may be made at www.donaldsonfunerals.com

Donaldson Funeral Home & Cremation is honored to serve the Gragg family.