Graham Thornton Jennings

Sometime in 1934, Graham Thornton Jennings met Charlotte Elizabeth O''Neal in first grade. The trajectory of their lives, including 75 years of marriage, would not end until October 27, 2025, when he died. In between these dates, Graham and Charlotte would raise four children, Deborah O'Neal Jennings, "Debbie" (Harvey), Graham Thornton Jennings, Jr., "Gray" (Marty), Rebecca Jennings Anderson, "Becky" (Thom), and Melanie Page Jennings. They would welcome grandchildren and great-grandchildren into the family. Their lives revolved around farming, medicine, law, Morgan horses, the Outer Banks, but most importantly, around family.

Born in Amelia County, Virginia, to Henry (Jack) Edmunds Jennings, III, and Mallie Virginia Jennings (Nee Shaw), Graham, in keeping with his time, worked and learned whatever skills his family needed to navigate the Great Depression. For example, as a boy of 12 he learned to drive and operated a snowplow on state highways. Just like one of his father's ventures, Graham owned and operated a small gas station on old 360 in Amelia County until he left to serve his country as a member of the Army National Guard and the Virginia State Police.

Graham married Charlotte in 1950. They eventually settled in Chesterfield County, and their family grew. While attending Richmond Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Commonwealth University) at night and working as a Virginia State Trooper, Graham approached Dean Muse of the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond (University of Richmond Law School) and was admitted to the law school. Joining the Virginia State Bar in February of 1961, Graham would practice law until his retirement 57 years later.

In the 1960's, Charlotte and Graham spent many summers in Nags Head surf fishing, beach combing, and creating enduring family memories. In the 1970's, Charlotte and Graham purchased a farm in Amelia County where he bred and raised Morgan horses for over 35 years. On the show circuit, people knew Graham as the "Head Groom" a moniker reflecting his commitment to perform any task to give his horses the best turnout and showing. On the farm, Graham and his brother, Henry "Henry" Edmunds Jenning, iV, occasionally cursed designers of farm machinery (typically red, square balers of hay), but mostly, worked and laughed and spoke of their families. Traveling with Charlotte, Graham treasured his trips to Montana for family reunions where tall tales and laughter revived old memories and began to ferment new ones.

Any list of Graham's friends would read like a filibuster, but each one knew or knows of his loyalty and goodwill. If inclined to honor Graham's memory, please consider a donation to the University of Richmond School of Law, The Michelle T. Rahman Scholarship, or your favorite charity.

A Requiem Mass for Graham will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 8200 Woodman Road, Henrico, VA 23228, on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 1:00 PM.