GRAHAM
PAXTON — James “Jim” P. Graham, 98, of Paxton, died Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, surrounded by loved ones.
M r . Graham was born in Rossville to James Fredrick and Marg aret Myrtle ( Jacobs) Graham on Nov. 27, 1926. He was drafted into the U.S. Army at age 17, serving in World War II. He initially was with the Army’s 1st Infantry and later in the military government during the occupation of the Philippines and Korea. After his military service, he attended the University of Illinois in Galesburg for two years, majoring in architecture. He then attended Decatur Barber College and graduated in 1948, beginning his 65-year career as a barber.
Mr. Graham married Virginia L. Beckley on July 24, 1949, in their hometown of Rossville, and they were married for 53 years. They lived in Cissna Park for the first five years of their marriage before moving to Paxton in 1954. In Paxton, Mr. Graham opened his own shop, Jim Graham’s Barber Shop, which became the social hub and meeting place for lively conversation and solving many of the world’s problems over the years. He eventually sold the shop in 1997 but did not retire until 2013 — after giving his final haircut to his great-grandson, Ethan Oliver.
Mr. Graham also served as the Paxton city treasurer for 20 years, from 1973 to 1993.
His hobbies included fishing, storytelling, gardening, winemaking, attending sporting events and cheering on the Green Bay Packers and Fighting Illini.
Surviving are three children, Ronald (Susey) Graham of Gallatin, Tenn., Patricia (Geno) Herges of Bloomington and Thomas (Linda) Graham of Camargo; six grandchildren, Erin (Jarod) Oliver of Fenton, Mo., Drew (Amy) Graham of Missouri City, Texas, Thomas Herges of Albuquerque, N.M., Amy (Michael) Adams of Carlock, Derek (Kaitlyn) Graham of St. Joseph and April Paige (Ian) Overstreet of Philo; 11 great-grandchildren, Ethan, Paxton and Jack Oliver, Sadie and Sam Adams, and Skyler, Cooper, Titus, Emmalyn, Jaxon and Gage Graham; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; two brothers, Jack and Donald (Dugan) Graham; one sister, Maxine Wilma Lundberg; two half-brothers, Earl and Howard Graham; and one great-grandchild, Sawyer Adams, in infancy.
A celebration of life service will be at noon Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the Cox-Knapp Funeral Home in Paxton. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Paxton-Buckley-Loda Education Foundation in Paxton.
Mr. Graham’s guestbook may be signed at www.coxknapp.com.