By Wesley Harris
“The world is a little less bright today . . . but heaven is much brighter.”
That assessment by Rhonda Boyd in reminiscing about Dr. Tommy Grafton, longtime Louisiana Tech educator, summed up the thoughts of many who mourned his passing on December 22.
Grafton served as an educator for many years with his last position at Louisiana Tech, focusing on health and saving young people from the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.
Grafton pulled community resources together to work with youth, calling on athletic superstars and even the spouse of a well-known but addicted Hollywood actor to get his programs’ message across. His latter years at Tech involved overseeing alcohol abuse prevention programs and community coalitions to promote prevention.
Boyd, a kinesiology instructor who worked alongside Grafton, said, “When I came to Tech, Tommy hired me as a health educator for Project Northland, an underage alcohol prevention program for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. He gave me some great advice when I began teaching that I have never forgotten: ‘When it comes to health education, you will not be able to save everyone, but if you save one—if what you share and teach causes one person to live better and make healthy decisions—then you have been a success.’”
Boyd said Grafton was a source of encouragement and inspiration to her. “No doubt he saved MANY in his years of education,” she said.
Addie Smith also worked as an alcohol and drug educator under Grafton’s supervision. Smith was coordinator of a local community coalition known as the North Central Alliance Partners in Prevention funded by a grant Grafton wrote.
“Dr. Grafton was very dear to me,” the current I. A. Lewis School counselor said. “He was more than just a boss. He was a mentor and fatherly figure in my life. He was generous, encouraging, and kind to everyone.”
Smith and Grafton stayed in touch after she moved to counseling for Lincoln Parish Schools. “I am so thankful we were able to visit by phone just last week. He told some stories and wanted to know about me & my family.”
Boyd and Smith both expressed thanks for Grafton’s role in their lives. “Thank you for believing in me!” said Boyd.
“I’m so grateful for all the things he taught me about living, honoring God, and putting others first,” Smith said. “I will miss him terribly, but I am happy to know he is rejoicing in heaven with the Father he knows so well!”
Funeral arrangements for Dr. Grafton are pending through Farrar Funeral Home of Farmerville.
