Kathy Graham Obituary

I want to express to Lynn and Family my sorrow for you in losing Kathy. I know that she was a great family member who will always be missed. She was your "little sister," and I would imagine that life was never the same after she was born. She surely must have added much fun and spirit to your family life. I know she loved all of you dearly. She talked about you and Deborah with devotion. She adored your parents and wanted so earnestly to make them proud of her.
Kathy and I were best friends in high school. We spent hours together having fun riding around town, hanging out with other friends, attending MYF meetings and activities, drifting around at Edisto Beach, swimming at Ruffin Swimming Pool, and working on projects at Walterboro High School. Kathy was a avid fan of our "all girls" rock band, and she was one of the main principals in hauling our old guitars, drums, and electric piano around from place to place. There were many times when we spent the entire week-end together going from one thing to the next. With Kathy around, there was always a lot of laughter and there definitely was never a dull moment. Her friendship made my high school years so much fun and I am thankful that she was in my life.
I know Kathy changed your life when she was born because she changed mine when we became friends in the ninth grade. I was drawn to her because I had never known anyone like her! She was so smart in school, one of the smartest people in our class, yet she was so very funny! She was high spirited , witty and totally irreverent of "the establishment." She loved to break stupid rules and she taught me that it was a lot of fun to break stupid rules. I found out from her that one could be a little naughty, have a great time, and still be an OK person. She had such a great sense of humor and she was fond of making fun of many serious people and serious situations that I had once thought were "sacred." With all her clowning, she always came out "smelling like a rose," laughing all the way.
Even though she was a maverick, the teachers loved Kathy and admired her for the high standards she kept with her school work. A born leader, Kathy was also a work-a-holic when it came to doing things for the good of our school and class like Student Council and Yearbook. She never complained about all the extra hours she spent and she always did the best she could with every job. She was often recognized but more often, she was not. It did not matter to Kathy because she enjoyed doing things "with her heart." She played to win whether it was on the basketball court, in the yearbook room, or in the school chorus.
In respect to chorus and music, there was one area that Kathy did not exactly excel and that area was in playing the piano. She always wanted to play the piano like me and she never stopped trying to improve. She and I took turns playing for The Men's Bible Class at Bethel Methodist Sunday School. The only hymn that Kathy could play for the men to sing was " Are Ye Able, Said the Master." She was so proud that she could play that hymn and whenever there was a piano around you could hear her cranking out "Are You Able."
Kathy tried to find the best in people at school and she was nice to everyone, even if they were "different" or weren't in "the group." She had a talent for making people feel good about themselves and she tried to motivate others to do the best they could. I am sure that special talent served her well the rest of her life as she worked in education to help others.
I am so proud of her great accomplishments. I remember the morning after graduation when Kathy told me that she was lying in bed and she heard "Born Free" on the radio. She said that she lay there listening to "Born Free' and thought of all things she wanted to do and all the great things that are "out there."
I never hear that song that I don't think of Kathy.
She made her journey count and although I think it was much too short, I know that she lived life in the best possible way. She left her world a better place, and her footprints will forever stay in the hearts of those with whom she walked.
Much love,
Boo Howell Poole