Tommie Rachel Thurman Graham Sunday, April 25, 2021
Tommie Graham
Tommie Rachel (Thurman) Graham, 78 years young, of Ooltewah, passed away on April 24, 2021, peacefully surrounded by loved ones.
Tommie was born on Nov. 29, to the proud parents, Thomas and Leli Thurman in 1942. She married Andy J. Graham on Feb. 19 who was the love of her life. She was owned and operated Tommie’s Hair Care Centre for 32 years and honestly loved every minute of it. She was so passionate about people and their hair was her vehicle in to work with them to ensure that they were living the best life possible. She was an active member and president of the Chattanooga Cosmetologist Association. She was also heavily involved with the American Business Women Association where she held every position and always championed the scholarship program to help young girls attend college where without the support it might not have been possible. She attended Chamberlain Memorial Baptist Church.
Gail Farrell and Lawrence Welk (Permission Welk Musical Family)Â
Photo #2. The Lawrence Welk Holiday Special: Great Moments and Memories featuring great moments and memories spanning 30 years of Christmas holiday shows. (Permission Welk Musical Family)
Tune-in to The Lawrence Welk Show at 7 p.m. Saturday evenings on OETA and most weeks you will catch a performance by southeastern Oklahoma and Durant native Gail Farrell.
Farrell was born in Salinas, California, but spent her childhood and teenage years in Durant. Her father was a cattle rancher and her mother was a plumber, so she took the most obvious route â music. She began to perform publicly at age six at rodeos and talent shows, in church, on pickup beds in the back of trucks stumping for local political candidates. She also learned how to sing gospel music from her grandmother. While attending the University of Tulsa, majoring in piano performance, she took part in the Miss Oklahoma Pageant and won in talent and