Graham Wyche Mintz, age 72, of Princeton, KY, passed away on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at Deaconess Gateway Hospital in Evansville, IN. Graham was born in Whiteville, NC on September 18, 1952, the son of Mary Clayton Wyche Mintz and the late Harry L. Mintz, Jr. He spent his earliest years in Shallotte, NC before moving to Hallsboro, NC in 1960. He graduated from Hallsboro High School in 1971. In his senior year he made the top score in the state of North Carolina on a statewide history test administered by UNC-Chapel Hill and won a scholarship. He was a member of the cross-country track team at Hallsboro High and played piano. His favorite recital piece was “In the Hall of the Mountain King”.
Education was very important to Graham, and he attended Mars Hill College where he graduated with honors in history and then earned a master’s in library science at the George Peabody School of Library Science in Nashville, Tennessee which later merged with Vanderbilt University. Graham worked in his profession of librarianship in public, academic, and state libraries in Kentucky and North Carolina until his retirement from Kentucky State Penitentiary in 2005
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Graham met his beloved wife Cheryl Nanette Franklin at the Madisonville Kentucky Public Library. He was giving a tour to a group of visiting librarians and afterwards said “She was the only one who laughed at my jokes.” They were married in Earlington, Kentucky in 1982. They made their home together in Princeton, Kentucky where Graham, a lifelong Methodist, became a member of the Ogden Memorial United Methodist Church where he enjoyed hearing and seeing his wife Cheryl singing in the choir.
Graham and Cheryl enjoyed traveling to many historic sites in Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina. He particularly enjoyed his return trips to North Carolina to visit his mother, other relatives, Calabash-style seafood restaurants, and historic train sites. Together, Cheryl and Graham co-parented a series of adorable beagles including, Georgia, Daisy Mae, and most recently Barney the Beagle. The beagles eagerly returned his affection as did the other neighborhood dogs who received treats whenever he took walks in the area. He particularly enjoyed reading history and biography, and he thoroughly enjoyed keeping up with current events as he monitored politics at the local, state, and national levels.
Graham loved his immediate and extended family members and eagerly kept up with the educational and career activities of each generation. He never failed to ask about all of his cousins and he never failed to speak of their accomplishments with great pride as he visited many of them on his return trips to NC. Graham was renowned in his family for his phenomenal memory and his excellent recall, particularly for places and events related to family activities, politics, history, and geography. He was a great resource whenever someone had forgotten details.
Graham is survived by his beloved wife, Cheryl Franklin, his 106-year-old mother, Mary Wyche Mintz, one sister, Mary McBryde Mintz and her husband James May, one brother, Henry L. Mintz, one nephew, Robert Henry Mintz, and one niece, Mary Rebekah Mintz, and many cousins, their children, and grandchildren. He was adopted by his wife’s family and loved them as much as he did his family of origin. Those survivors include his sisters-in-law, Mollie Trunnell and Shirley Franklin, brother-in-law, Jim Duncan and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation for Graham Mintz will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Morgan’s Funeral Home.
Funeral services will follow at 1:00 PM at Morgan’s Funeral Home with Rev. Shelley Caulder officiating. Burial will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Princeton.
Memorial contributions may be made in Graham’s memory to Ogden Memorial United Methodist Church: 305 W Main St, Princeton, KY 42445.
Morgan’s Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
