The last surviving brother of the late evangelist Billy Graham passed away last week at the age of 91.
Jean Graham Ford’s health had been declining since December of last year, and she passed away from a stroke on Thursday morning.
“Aunt Jean loved the Lord Jesus Christ, her family, the Church, and the work of God’s people around the world. She and her husband, Dr. Leighton Ford, always relied on her father’s great encouragement throughout their ministry. “He sought her advice on many issues throughout his life,” evangelist Franklin Graham said. I have written On facebook.
according to CBN NewsThe youngest of four children, Jean was 14 years older than Billy Graham, whom she called “Billy Frank.” Her other siblings, Katharine Graham McElroy and Melvin Graham, died in 2006 and 2003, respectively, at the age of 78.
When Gene was 11, he contracted polio, which paralyzed his throat.
“As a young girl, even when faced with the possibility of death, she would say, “It wouldn’t have bothered me.” [to die] Because she knew she was going to heaven. She traced her faith back to her childhood and commented that Jesus was ‘part of our family,'” Graham recalled.
She then attended Wheaton College, where she met her husband, Leighton Ford. Ford has been described as a “powerful evangelist,” and she served as an associate evangelist for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) for 30 years.
Franklin Graham recalled how his late aunt supported Leighton after her eldest son, Sandy, died during heart surgery when he was 21.
“We made a decision that night,” she said of her son’s death in an interview years later. “God is good…even if we don’t feel that way.”
In 1985, the couple started Layton Ford Ministries, where she served as an evangelist.
Jean too It was delivered At Billy Graham’s funeral in Charlotte in 2018, she said: At the time, she told her attendees that hearing the news of her brother’s death reminded her of the hymn, “Heaven came down and filled my soul with glory.”
“On February 21st, heaven came down and took my brother away from me,” she said. “One day the heavens will come down and take me. And I know it.” [my brother] Today I want to say, “Heaven is coming again and wants to take you too.” ”
Franklin Graham said he is grateful for what God has done in his aunt’s life.
“We are grateful for the way her life touched so many lives as she testified, “It can be very difficult to commit your life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet I have no other choice.” That happens to be ingrained within me, trust in what the Lord has promised. Trust in who I know He is. .”
“We will miss her in this life, but we look forward to spending eternity with her in the presence of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,” he concluded.
Jean is survived by her husband, son, and daughter.
Image credit: ©Getty Images / brian blanco / stringer
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributor to Christian Headlines and host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast dedicated to sound doctrine and Biblical truth. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Alliance Theological Seminary.
