Robbie Earnestine (Graham) Davis

"Revelation 21:4...And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away".

Robbie Earn​estine Graham Davis passed from labor to reward on August 4. She was born on July 29, 1933, in Great Falls, SC, the oldest of the five children of Robert Milton and Mozelle Mitchell Graham.  After the family moved to North Carolina, Robbie graduated from Dunbar High School in Salisbury and received her undergraduate and master's degrees from NC Central University in Durham.

One of the teachers at Dunbar told Robbie that she would be a dietician.  So, Robbie set her mind on that and was very successful.  She served most of her professional life with the Veteran's Administration.  She became one of the first Black Chief Dieticians in the VA and worked in different states.  She retired while working at the VA Hospital in Salisbury.

She reconnected with the love of her life, William T. “Bill” Davis, who was the father of her two children, Audrey Kates Bailey of Raleigh and John Robert “Butch” Graham.  Robbie and her “Mr. Wonderful” married on December 31, 1984, and remained in Salisbury. Bill passed on November 12, 2011. Butch lived with and cared for Robbie in her later years.  He died on November 3, 2022.

Robbie was a dynamic woman involved in various organizations and volunteered for many causes. No matter what the setting, she stood out as a leader.  One of her favorites was at the Rufty-Holmes Senior Center in Salisbury. She also was very active at New Hope AME Zion until she could no longer serve. One constant for her was her love of Jesus. Her Christian life was most important to her.

Robbie was a leader in every organization and voluntary position. She was a very active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. One of her favorites was at the Rufty-Holmes Senior Center in Salisbury. She also was very active at New Hope AME Zion until she could no longer serve. One constant for her was her love of Jesus. Her Christian life was most important to her.

Her parents, two brothers, John Frank and William Marcelle, her sister, Esther Graham Roseboro, and her son Butch preceded her in death.

Those who remain to cherish her memory are a brother, Leonard L. Graham of Harrisburg; her daughter Audrey K. Bailey in Raleigh; three granddaughters, Olivia Miller of Concord, April Simpson of Winston-Salem, and Anya DeShazo of Greensboro; two grandsons, Justin M. Bailey of Raleigh and Stephen Wilkins of Agusta; two nephews, Brian (Giovanna) McCollough of Concord and Dewayne McCollough of Charlotte; seven great-grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends remain to mourn the loss of this sweet soul.

Service: 1:00 p.m. Saturday, August 10, 2024-New Hope AME Zion Church, 1470 N. Long St., Salisbury, NC  28144.  Visitation: half hour prior to service.  Rev. Dr. Thomas Grinter, Pastor/eulogist.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Public viewing: Friday, August 9, 2024.  1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Hairston Funeral Home, Inc. is serving the Davis/Graham families with sincere care and compassion.  Online condolences may be sent to: hairstonfh.com.

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