Dr. Lane Gaskell Graham

Dr. Lane Gaskell Graham, 64, of Salisbury, passed to his eternal glory on Saturday March 11, 2017 at 7:05 PM at the Glenn A. Kiser Hospice House. He was born on November 18, 1952, to his beloved mother the late Sarah Grubb Graham and his father the late Walter A. Graham, Jr. Named in honor of his beloved grandfather Gaskell, Lane was educated in the Rowan County School System, graduating in the class of 1971 from North Rowan High School, where he was salutatorian of his class and president of the student council. He attained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Catawba College, a Masters degree in Education from Appalachian State University (where he also worked at the Agape Center), and his PhD in Education from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Lane was a member of Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church where he had served as Lay Leader. He was also a former Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church of Spencer. Lane also was a past coordinator of the Spencer 8th Street park summer recreational program and the Rowan County Special Olympics. Lane was an active participant in the discipline of karate having attained the level of Master Fifth Degree Black Belt. He was associated for many years with teaching karate at Catawba Collage and for the past 17 plus years ran the Ellis Park Karate program as well as running the after school karate program at Cleveland Elementary. Dr. Graham was an immensely respected and well loved educator with the Rowan Salisbury Schools for 30 years, working at Landis Elementary, Hurley Elementary, and Cleveland Elementary. Upon retirement, he continued to teach as an Associate Professor at Pfeiffer University. His love for teaching and for all his students was boundless. “Doc”, as he was fondly identified, was a person of integrity who always exhibited the highest moral character, positive attitude, genuine respect, and compassionate understanding for his colleagues and especially his many, many students. He received many accolades throughout his career (though he was not one to brag) and was widely recognized in his life work as a consummate teacher in both his chosen field and on a community level. Lane can best be described as a servant leader. He always put others before himself in both his professional and personal life. To him, to be a true leader one must first always be a humble servant to the Lord and to others both in words and actions throughout one’s life. Lane assuredly accomplished this goal as evidenced through the love he shared with family, friends, colleagues, and especially his many students. He touched so many lives and we were so blessed that he shared his life and immense capacity for love, compassion, and understanding with us all. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten by all who knew him and were the recipients of his special love and kindness. Survivors include his beloved wife Carolyn Y. Graham and daughters Stacey M. Adams and husband Paul of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Melissa Mustard of Williamsburg, Virginia: grandchildren Evan, Will, and Clark Adams: brother Lex Graham and wife Betsy of Kannapolis: sisters Lynn G. Marsh and husband Donnie, Lu Graham, and Lark Martin all of Salisbury: nieces and nephews Donna M. Greene, Kelly G. Stewart, Matt Marsh, and Dane Martin all of Salisbury: grand nieces and nephews Peyton, Parker, Pressley, and Paxton Greene, Rylie and Landrey Stewart, Levi Marsh and Aubrey Martin all of Salisbury: close first cousins Chris Weant and wife Vickie, Cindy W. Fuller and husband Tracy , Frank Longest, Jr. and wife Lee, Barbara L. Raeford and husband R. J. He is also survived by lifelong friends Jack Moore and Monty Ryan as well as former karate student and assistant teacher Justin Davidson. Visitation and Service will be held at the Omwake-Dearborn Chapel on the campus of Catawba College at 2300 West Innes St in Salisbury, NC 28144 on Wednesday with visitation from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM followed immediately by the service. Officiating will be the Reverend Scott Ryan and the Reverend Kris Mares. Past and present karate students in attendance are asked to wear their uniforms if they desire in honor of Dr. Graham. Members from the NRHS class of 1971 may sit together if they choose. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church - 4520 Old Mocksville Rd. Salisbury, NC 28144 for the Lane G. Graham Scholarship Fund for the Teaching of Special Education.

Dr. Lane Gaskell Graham

November 18, 1952 - March 11, 2017