Born September 18, 1873, near McRae, Telfair County, Georgia. Attended local schools and North Georgia Agricultural College; graduated from the University of Georgia with a B.L. degree, in June 1899. He was admitted to the bar in Clarke County Superior Court with the University Law Class of 1899, on June 21, 1899; practiced in McRae, June, 1899-June, 1902; in Mount Vernon, Georgia, June, 1902, to January, 1905; and in McRae, January, 1905, until elected judge of Oconee Judicial Circuit in 1920. He was reelected judge in 1924, 1928, and 1932, which position he now holds. He is a Methodist, Democrat, Sigma Nu, K. of P., Odd Fellow, Mason, Shriner, Captain of Telfair Guards, First Regiment, Georgia State Troops, stationed at McRae, 1901-1902 (resigned); chairman Liberty Loan Committee, Telfair County, and chairman legal advisory board for registrants, Fifteenth Senatorial District, during the World War. He was a trustee of the Eleventh District A. & M. School, 1906-1917; trustee Middle Georgia College, 1927, until taken over by the board of regents. He was mayor of McRae during 1901-1902, and was a member, of the House of Representatives from Telfair County in 1906; judge of City Court of McRae from August 3, 1909, to October 1, 1912, when he resigned. He is also a farmer.
He was first married on June 26, 1906, to Eva May Smith, who was born January 9, 1877, in Telfair County, and died July 28, 1914. She was a graduate of Wesleyan College, and a daughter of Captain Thomas Jefferson Smith, born March 31, 1842 (captain, C. S. A.; member House of Representatives from Telfair County, 1873-1874; Senator, Fifteenth District, 1880-1881, 1892-1893; died April 23, 1925) and Neilly Ann McKay Smith, born September 19, 1843, died December 24, 1886. Son of first marriage, Duncan Smith Graham.
His second marriage was on August 22, 1917, to Frankie Williams, who was born in Putnam County, Georgia, November 2, 1876, and graduated at G. S. C. W. She was a daughter of William Franklin Williams, born in Jasper County, Georgia, August 23, 1852, died October 31, 1877, and Zillah Elizabeth Phillips Williams, born in Putnam County, September 24, 1854, died August 31, 1929. Daughter of second marriage, Josephine Elizabeth Graham.
Judge Graham is the son of Duncan Campbell Graham, born January 4, 1836, in Telfair County (a private and first sergeant in the Confederate Army four years; justice of the peace, county commissioner, treasurer of Telfair County fourteen years, farmer), died January 2, 1903, and Josephine McDuffie Graham, born November 23, 1848, in Telfair County; and the grandson of Alexander and Abigail Campbell Graham of Telfair County, and Edward G. and Katherine McLaughlin McDuffie of Telfair County.
