John Wesley Graves, 76, devoted to his family

John Wesley Graves Sr., a businessman and long a supporter of the Evelyn Graves Drama Productions and other faith-based enterprises of his wife, died Feb. 24 at age 76.

John was a 27-year employee of Proctor and Schwartz, a Horsham-based manufacturing firm, and also worked as a maintenance engineer at a Center City high-rise. He also was a long-distance chauffeur and later owned and managed the Graves Laundromat in Center City and in North Philadelphia.

He and his wife, Evelyn Cassandra Williams, were both children of South Carolina sharecroppers. They were married in 1952. They lived for a time in South Philadelphia before moving to Southwest Philadelphia, where they raised their six children.

John was born in Mullins, S.C., to Ernest and Wilhelmenia Graves. He was a graduate of the Palmetto High School, where he played football as a halfback.

Besides the production company, his multitalented wife was a founder of the Evelyn Graves Ministries with three churches - one in West Philadelphia, in Yeadon and in Marion, S.C. - and operator of the Christian Academy Church School.

She also has written and produced plays with a moral and spiritual theme. Her husband was her biggest supporter and cheerleader.

John first led his family to Calvary Baptist Church at 16th Street and Fairmount Avenue. In later years, he visited the Mitchell Baptist Church, 1400 N. 29th St., where his late brother, the Rev. Ernest Graves, was the pastor.

John was a strong family man. He delighted in getting his children together to talk about sports, current events and other topics. He liked to listen to them tell of their experiences of the day.

Besides his wife, he is survived by four daughters, the Rev. Melinda Graves-Story, Cassandra D. Graves, Rhoda Jean Jones and Renee Amanda Nance; two sons, John Wesley Graves Jr. and Derrick Graves; two sisters, Beulah Floyd and Mammies Richardson; three brothers, James Walter, DeLeon and Emanuel Graves; 10 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Services: Were Saturday. *