She passed away when Graham was 20, and his sister Darline was only 11. At the very end, doctors told the family she was gone, but Graham grabbed her and pleaded until she revived for one final week.
Just 15 months later, their father was diagnosed with prostate cancer and died in his sleep from a massive heart attack. His 13-year-old sister tragically discovered their father’s body.
Suddenly, a 21-year-old Graham found himself completely responsible for raising his young teenage sister. He rushed home from college every single weekend to enforce her curfews and manage the household.
He later became her while in the Air Force so she could qualify for his military benefits. He sacrificed his own youth to ensure his sister finished high school and went to college.
went on to become a mother of two who worked to help people with disabilities find jobs. Graham took particular pride in her success, calling her turning out so well the highlight of his life.
Bob McAlister, a former adviser to Graham, described their bond as extraordinary. He noted that Graham’s decision to step up as her guardian personified exactly who he was as a person.
In a moving, Nordone recalled the day their father died, remembering how Graham hugged her and promised to take care of her. Decades later, Graham jokingly told reporters she could serve as his “” if he ever won the presidency.
Now, because of their , Governor Henry McMaster has officially appointed Nordone to fill her late brother’s seat. She will serve the remaining months on his current term, making her the first woman to represent the state in the U.S. Senate.
Nordone about her grief on Monday, admitting, “Actually, I’m just kind of like devastated right now.” She declined an interview Sunday, saying the loss of her brother was still too raw.
