b. September 2, 1978

by Allison Rankin, Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Wilmington, NC, 2013

Erica Lynne Wyatt Graves, Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Wilmington, North Carolina, is the silent worker bee. Her faithful presence and quiet leadership are made manifest in many ways. This includes producing the weekly church bulletin since our Myrtle Grove Middle School days (circa 2008), her active involvement in the children’s nursery, Sunday school programs and pageants, her contributions of time and talent to Vacation Bible School, and her hosting, with husband Jamey, of the Dinner for Disciples, a weekly Bible study and support group for area college students.

Growing up in the Methodist church, Erica was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church in Cove City, North Carolina (Craven County) where she was baptized, confirmed and later married to James Spottswood Graves II (Jamey). She met Jamey in 1999 while a student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and started going to church with him at St. James Episcopal Church in Wilmington. She was later confirmed in the Episcopal Church at Holy Cross in May 2009, the same day her son, James Spottswood Graves III (Tripp) was baptized.

Being the mother of an active toddler and working full-time at a Certified Public Accounting firm, Erica still found time to be involved with Happening, the semi-annual Episcopal youth retreat at Trinity Center, Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina, with her first being Happening #44 in Fall 2004 where she attended as a “Geritol,” aka adult participant. She went back to several subsequent Happenings and helped where needed. She also participated in the youth mission work week at Glory Ridge in Madison County, North Carolina, with St. James in June 2006, in Camino, a national gathering for Episcopal young adults held at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco in September 2007, and in PYE (Provincial Youth Event) for Province IV in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, in July 2007 where she was in charge of the kitchen. This wasn’t just any kitchen – it was a mobile kitchen and responsible for feeding approximately 225 people for a 10-day mission experience!

And if that weren’t enough, Erica was involved with the Holy Cross music group in its early days and was often found at Holy Cross during rehearsal of children’s plays and band performances. It is with a heavy heart that we say good bye and wish her well as she and her family begin a new life in Charlotte, North Carolina, at Christ Episcopal Church. Erica’s last day at Holy Cross will be Sunday, May 26, 2013. It has been a joy knowing Erica and having her in our midst.