Reverend Billy Graham, 99, passed away at his Western North Carolina home on Feb. 21, 2018.
Rev. Graham was known as “America’s Pastor” and was born on November 7, 1918, in Charlotte, NC. He attended Greenville’s own Bob Jones University.
He passed away at his home in Montreat, NC, only an hour and a half drive from Greenville.
Here are 5 facts you probably didn’t know about Rev. Graham:
- He was a close ally of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. + in 1952, Graham removed ropes separating black and whites in his audience in Jackson, Mississippi.
- Rev. Graham has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (he was the 1,000th person to receive one) + also received an honorary knighthood in 2001.
- In 1966, Rev. Graham spent ten days in GVL – 19,000 people showed up to see his first appearance, and 279,000 saw him speak in total throughout his Greenville trip.
- His favorite birthday cake? Lemon with lard icing.
- He personally met with 12 presidents, from Truman to Obama. He played golf with President Ford in Charlotte in 1974, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Reagan in 1983.
