Joseph Herman Graveman, Jr., 89 of Cullman, Alabama passed away on July 31, 2023 after a long battle of Parkinson’s disease. Joe was born on July 1, 1934 to Joseph Herman Graveman Sr. and Lillian Connert Graveman in Cullman.
Joe grew up on a dairy farm his father owned and started at a very young age he helped deliver milk in the mornings before going to school. After high school he continue to work on the dairy farm and during that time he met the love of his life Mary. On Dec. 20, 1952 they were married and were with each other through all of life’s ups and downs.
After they were married, they moved to Detroit Michigan, where Joe went to work at Alcoa Aluminum Company as an inspector. In 1955 Joe started working with Graveman construction helping construct houses and commercial buildings.
In 1961 Joe went to work for Chevron Chemical Company as a warehouse foreman and then was promoted to plant manager. After being transferred around from Decatur Alabama to Pine Bluff, Arkansas and Greenville Texas he decided to come back home to Cullman. He went to work with the City of Cullman as building inspector.
In 1979 Joe decided he wanted to farm and had chicken houses built. For over 20 years he worked very hard and was awarded top grower several times. After retiring from farming, Joe started woodworking and made cabinets and furniture. Joe and Mary had five children, Bernard, Kathy, Mike, Jonathan (deceased) and Melissa. Joe was a wonderful and devoted father, husband, teacher and hard worker. Joe loved his grandkids, studying the Bible, teaching Sunday school and woodworking.
Joe is survived by his wife of 70 years, Mary Lou Nix Graveman, sons: Bernard (Cindy) Graveman, Mike (Imelda) Graveman; daughters: Kathy (Terry) Parker, Melissa (Darin) Richard; brothers: Steve Graveman and Willie Graveman. sisters: Mary Francis (Egmont) Krug, Rose (Frank) Allbright, Gladys (Tommy) Hudson; grandchildren: Jeremy Graveman, Shane Graveman, Michelle (Cartis) Higginbotham, Jason (Jamie) White, Tyler Richard, Colton (Meagan) Richard, Kirsten Nicole (Wyatt) Andrews, Kristian Graveman; great-grandchildren: Autumn, Izack, Emma, Jackson, Kaylee, Tristian, Wesley, Christian, Lexi, Meagan, Leo and Kamille; great-great-grandchildren: Aiden, Asher and Florence-May
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, infant son Jonathan Graveman, brother Buck Graveman, granddaughter Stephanie Graveman.
The family would like to thank Joe’s caregivers, Gail Hill, Annette Flanigan, Linda Bradford and Donna Abbott for seeing after him the last 5 months and to his granddaughter in law, Meagan Richard and special family friend, Jonathon Allums for staying around the clock his last few days making sure he was comfortable.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to be made to Brickyard Baptist Church and/or the Parkinson’s Foundation.
