Billy Graham Avenue Dedicated on Lee University Campus
Cleveland, TN—February 24, 2012—Virginia “Gigi” Graham, the eldest daughter of world-famous evangelist Billy Graham, was the honored guest on the campus of Lee University as Billy Graham Avenue was officially dedicated.
Gigi Graham, center, is joined by others as she cuts the ribbon dedicating Billy Graham Ave. on the Lee University campus. Medlin Hall, where Graham lived 76 years ago, is in the background.
Graham represented her father for the ceremony where a ribbon was cut on a portion of a city street re-named four years ago. Billy Graham was a student at Bob Jones College in 1936 when its campus was located in Cleveland, on the current campus of Lee University. Evangelist Graham has written about his brief time at Bob Jones as a period when he worked at a downtown shoe store, re-dedicated his life and call to ministry, and where he preached his first two sermons at nearby churches.
“Daddy had not been a Christian very long when he was enrolled here,” Gigi Graham told a gathering of approximately 200 guests at a luncheon. “He has good memories of here, remembering especially the chapel services and the wonderful hospitality of the community.”
Ms. Graham referred to some difficult times her father encountered while he was a student at Bob Jones. In his writings, Graham refers to being in Bob Jones’ office to tell the president of his intentions to transfer. The meeting took place in the same room where Lee University President Dr. Paul Conn’s office is now located.
“God used some of the circumstances from here to shape my father’s life and ministry,” Ms. Graham concluded. “He began that journey of absolute faithfulness right here.”
Cleveland, Tennessee Mayor Tom Rowland, and his wife, Sandra, hosted Gigi Graham during the two-day visit. It was Mayor Rowland who proposed the re-naming of the street four years ago because of its proximity to Medlin Hall, formerly Bachelor Hall, the dormitory building where Graham lived when he was a student. The Cleveland City Council unanimously passed the motion to re-name the three block section of street and new signs indicating the change were mounted in 2008. Since then it has been a dream of Mayor Rowland to bring a member of the Graham family to Cleveland for a formal dedication.
The event was held in the Science and Math Complex at Lee University, adjacent to Billy Graham Avenue. During the dedication several gifts were presented to Ms. Graham, including an actual street sign created especially for the Graham family. Tennessee State Representative Kevin Brooks, an alumnus of Lee, presented a proclamation from the State House of Representatives naming February 24, 2012 “Billy Graham Day” in Tennessee.
Following the presentations, the crowd adjourned to the street where a ribbon was cut by Ms. Graham. Special music was provided by the Voices of Lee who sang a medley of tunes connected with Graham’s ministry. The group concluded the outdoor ceremony with an a cappella rendition of “Just As I Am,” perhaps the most recognizable hymn associated with the Billy Graham Crusades. Ms. Graham completed her visit with a walking tour through Medlin Hall, where she tentatively identified the room where her father lived, based on his recollections from 76 years ago.
Church of God Bible Training School relocated from Sevierville, Tennessee in 1947 when Bob Jones College moved their campus to Greenville, South Carolina. It was then the name Lee College was adopted and remained until the institution was re-named Lee University in 1997.
–Cameron Fisher, Church of God Communications
