Neill Ray Graham

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59735513/neill-ray-graham

PNEUMONIA CLAIMS MR. NEILL GRAHAM

Young Attorney Succumbs to Violent Illness for Past Two Weeks.

WAS 35 YEARS OF AGE

Son of Prof. and Mrs. Alexander Graham and a Prominent Young Man of the City.

The passing of Mr. Neill Ray Graham yesterday at 1 o'clock has brought profound sorrow to this community, the young attorney failing in his fight with a serious case of pneumonia which, combined with a typhoid affection, kept him to his bed, and lately unconscious, in part for two weeks. Mr. Graham died at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Graham, on South Brevard street near the South school building.

Mr. Graham was a son of Charlotte by adoption. He was born in Fayetteville in 1879, and was therefore 35 years of age. He came to this city with his parents when he was a boy and entered the public schools of which his father was superintendent for a period of 26 years. Mr. Graham, completing his academic studies here, entered the University of North Carolina from which he graduated in 1904. He remained at the University after the completion of his course there as private secretary to Professor Baskerville of the chair of chemistry, then went to New York to take a position as a member of the faculty of the College of New York with which Doctor Baskerville was prominently identified. He returned after a short time to his native state and took a course in law at the State University. Completing preparation for this life-work he came to Charlotte and established himself as an attorney.

Mr. Graham possessed qualifications that gave him immediate success at the bar. To a finely trained mind, he had the resource of native ability and behind this the fortification of a firm character. Coming to the city in which he had grown up with a superb education and where he was personally known to a wide circle of friends, he commanded instant recognition as a lawyer of rare promise. The prominent traits of his character, fairness, honesty and justice in his dealings with fellow men; geniality, nobleness, meekness and Christian faith in his personal life, were soon displayed and these were leading assets in a brief but successful career at the bar. Mr. Graham was recognized as a young attorney of exceptional poise of mind. He was a hard student. His acquirements of legal learning came through thorough and painstaking research. He did nothing half heartedly and when he prepared himself for his profession, he covered every inch of the ground. He completed prior to being stricken, the laborious work of re-codifying the laws of the city. This demanded stern duties on his part and kept him closely confined. It is reasoned now that the amount of energy poured into this task during the Summer, a work that was so thoroughly and conscientiously done that he neglected the demands of his own self-preservation, sapped some of the reserve and resource from him that might have stood him in good stead against the onslaughts of the pneumonic attack. This task was so magnificently done that Mr. Graham drew high praise from the mayor the city, the municipal boards and many of his colleagues, some of whom were much older in the practice of law and experience in this line of work. They recognized that he had given to the task of the directness of mind, the systematic processes of legal application for which he was notable as an attorney.

Beyond his abilities in the profession he chose and in which he was coming rapidly into prominence Mr. Graham was perhaps better known and more widely admired for the splendid virtues of a strong character. He was of irreproachable reputation. None but the loftiest motives or the justest principles ever commanded him. He was reserved in temperament and weakly in flesh but his sense of right made of him a moral giant. He was incorruptible and virtuous in every walk and conversation. he was strong in the faith of his fathers. By birth a Presbyterian, he held life-long membership with the Second Presbyterian Church of this city and gave to his religious activities the same conscientious service that he applied to any of his other duties.

Mr. Graham is survived by his parents, four brothers, David S. Graham of San Diego, Ca., Dr. A. W. Graham of Chisholm, Minn., Frank P. Graham, member of the faculty of the State University, George Graham, of the faculty of Warrenton High School and four sisters Misses Mary, Hattie, Kate and Annie Graham. He was a nephew of Mr. Archibald Graham of this city and Prof. John Graham of Warrenton. Dr. Edward K. Graham, president of the University of North Carolina, was a first cousin of the deceased.

Definite funeral arrangements have not been made. It was stated, however, last night that the services would probably be held tomorrow afternoon. The Charlotte Bar Association will attend the exercises in a body.

Charlotte Observer, 10.24.1914