Rev. James Edgar Grafton, age 84 of Dubach, La.,  went home to be with his Lord on May 26, 2020. He was born on September 22, 1935. Due to our current climate of caution and limitations for gatherings, the family will have a small private service at the New Prospect Baptist Church in Dubach. There will be a public graveside service at 3:30 P.M. on Thursday, May 28, 2020, at Pine Grove Cemetery in Bernice, under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Ruston.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mary Nell Grafton of Dubach, LA, a son, Vance Aaron Grafton of Smyrna, TN, and a daughter, Cristy Ellen Grafton Davis of Magnolia, AR, four grandchildren, Chadwick James Grafton of Murfreesboro, TN, Emma Renee Grafton of Smyrna, TN, Lauren Ashley Harrison and Tyler Aaron Harrison of Magnolia, AR., two sisters, Jerolyn Crawford and Sherry Nadene Sanders of Dubach, LA. He was preceded in death by his parents, Everett Jackson Grafton and Lunnie Colvin Grafton of Dubach, LA.

Rev. Grafton graduated from Dubach High School in 1953. He served in the Louisiana National Guard and US Army Reserve during the Korean War. He enlisted in the US Air Force in 1956, serving in the Marshall Islands and on Iwo Jima supporting top secret activities in those locations as a cryptographer. After overseas duty, he was assigned to Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, AL to support the Air War College, Squadron Officers School. After an honorable discharge in 1960, Rev. Grafton worked for Poloron Products in Ruston, LA, while attending Louisiana Tech University. He graduated in 1962 with a degree in accounting and took a position with Murphy Oil in El Dorado, AR. on July 4, 1982,

Rev. Grafton surrendered to full-time Christian ministry, resigning from Murphy Oil and moving to Fort Worth, TX to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. After receiving his Master of Divinity degree in 1986, Rev. Grafton has served in a variety of ministry positions, including Director of Missions for then Currant Gains Baptist Association in northeast AR. and the Carey Baptist Association in south central Arkansas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials for the American Cancer Society and St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.