Her father was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and spent his younger years, after immigrating, in the state of Georgia.

Florida began providing home-based services to older Floridians through the Community Care for the Elderly program.

As project chairman for the National Association of Partners in Education, she co-authored a book, Finish for the Future, that identifies outstanding private sector initiatives in public schools for dropout prevention.

Graham participated in establishing a dropout prevention partnership program at her alma mater, Miami Edison High School, and successfully raised money to help high school students tutor younger students.

During the family's tenure in Tallahassee, she restored the Governor's Mansion and added a Florida sunroom to the state home.

During these years, as well as when she was First Lady, Graham served as Vice President of the Florida House, the state's embassy in the nation's capitol.

She was also an active member of International Neighbor's Club # One in Washington, D.C. Graham was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctors of Laws from Barry University in recognition of her dedicated service as a wife, mother and educator.

In 2005, she was named "A Woman of Impact" in Greater Miami, and the University of Florida honored her as an "Alumna of Outstanding Achievement."

Graham's mother was of Scotch-Irish descent, and her father came from a family of Maronite Christians from Beirut, Lebanon.