Leah Ritter Graham

After finishing at Tupelo High School in '84, I attended JCM from Fall '85 to Fall '86 (ran out of money). Came back to Tupelo and want to ICC & earned a AA. I then married the most wonderful man in the world, Kenneth Graham. We meet in Portsmouth, VA while I was visiting my aunt, Donna Linville. Ken & I married in 1990. 18th years later, he is & will remain the love of my life. Our first two years of marriage was at NAS Memphis, where Ken completed his 6 years in the Navy. From there we attended JCM for 1 1/2 years, where I "finally" compeleted a degree in '94. We moved back to Tupelo in Nov. '96. We've build a home in the Auburn/Eggville community. Then after years of prayers, the Lord blessed us with the desire of our hearts, Kegan. Kegan was adopted from New Beginnings. We held him in our arms when he was five hours old and life has never been the same. Kegan started K3 at TCA this year, with Aunt Sandy. He LOVE'S school. Ken is an engineer with Leggett & Platt. I've worked for the past 12 years with Lanier Clothes, a men's tailor suit manufacturer. I've worked with the manufacturing trim/product development department. I will be laid off before the end of '08. Since our work in going to Mexico, the federal goverment will pay for us to go back to school for 2 years. So I'm hoping to complete a degree in Social Work at Ole Miss. We attend church at Cedar Grove UPC in Tupelo. I'm the Sunday School Director and Ken & I have taught the Anger Management class for about 6 years now that is a part of our Life in Focus courses.

Stories about TCM...I've got lots of memories associated with TCM. Growing up in Tupelo and looking like a Pentecostal girl, the comment was always made, "Oh, your from the Tupelo Children's Mansion." "No, I'm not from the Mansion, but I've got lots of friends from there." was my general reply. Of course the first person that always comes to mind from the Mansion was my very best buddy and pal, Sabrina Briggs. I believe we were best friends nearly from day one. Then one of my saddest memories was the Monday morning arriving at school, Joy & Margaret were waiting on me to let me know that Sabrina's father had came that weekend and took her, Nick & John home. I felt like a big part of me was gone. Sabrina and I keep in touch for a year or so, but you know how that goes! Sabrina contacted me in '92 when she was in Tupelo for a reunion. Then we had a few moments at this reunion in '08, but thinks to the hurricane never got a chance to sit down & really catch up. Then TCA was started my 9th grade year in '79, so I lost touch with most of my friends from TCM, which was another sad thing. Thrilled about this site, this way we can all catch up on all the lost years. What more is there in life than having great relationships with friends & loved ones?