It is with great sadness that our family announces the passing of our dear husband, father, and grandfather, Reverend Varney Arthur “Art” Graves.  He was born in Wilmington, Delaware on October 20, 1935, and passed from this world on the afternoon of November 6, 2016 (All Saints Day in the Methodist Church).

 

Art served as either the youth minister or pastor for the people of North Georgia as an ordained minister in the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church since 1960.  In that time period, he was appointed to ten Methodist Churches: Trinity United Methodist Church (UMC), Lagrange, GA; St. Paul UMC, Atlanta; Grace UMC, Atlanta; Thomson First Methodist, Thomson, GA; Tuckston UMC, Athens, GA; Graysville UMC, Graysville, GA; Trion UMC, Trion, GA; Lafayette 1^st Methodist, Lafayette, GA; Eton UMC, Eton, GA; and Fisher’s Chapel UMC in Summerville, GA.

 

Art was preceded in death by his grandparents, Wiley and Minnie Graves (a strong influence in his life), Walter and Beulah Graves; and his parents, Varney A. and Mary Bartlett Graves.

 

Art is survived by Sylvia Graves, his devoted wife of 54 years; daughter, Vanessa Schuler; sons, Marshall Graves and Gerald Graves; brother, Walter Graves; sisters, Emily Roberts, Betty Rueben, and Andi Baker; grandchildren, Mara Gabrielle Schuler, Rebecca Michal Schuler, Brandon Ellis Schuler, Joshua Arthur Graves, Kaitlyn Paige Graves, Lindsey Walston, Nathan Vega and Brenan Vega; a Godson, Newton McCurdy; and through Compassionate Friends, a “Child of compassion” Sulmy Anedith Martinez Gomes in Guatemala.

 

A Celebration of Life Service for Rev. Art Graves will be held Thursday, November 10, 2016 at 3:30 P.M. in the Trion United Methodist Church with Rev. John McCurdy and Family and Friends  officiating. 

 

Interment will be at 2:00 P.M. in the Fisher’s Chapel Cemetery.  Those desiring to attend the graveside are asked to meet at Coffman Funeral Home by 1:15 Thursday.

Pallbearers will be Brandon Ellis Schuler, Joshua Arthur Graves, Newton McCurdy, Nathan Vega and Brenan Vega.

 

Flowers will be accepted, however, those desiring may make memorial contributions to the Fisher’s Chapel United Methodist Church Building Fund or to United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) at umcor.org, 1-800-554-8583 or mail checks to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY  10087.

 

Coffman Funeral Home, Petitt Chapel, is honored to be serving the family of Rev. Art Graves.  Please visit www.coffmanfh.net to sign our online guestbook and to post condolences.