Dr. Eleanor J. Graves
Several years ago I was invited to speak at a conference at the beautiful American Baptist Headquarters facility In Nashville Tennessee. The platform hostess was none other than the lovely and gracious Eleanor Graves. I was very impressed and touched by her graciousness as she brought each speaker on when it was their time to speak. She handled all other details for which she was responsible with the same grace.
I had never met this lovely lady before. I was aware that she was first lady of Temple Baptist Church pastored by her husband, Dr. Michael Lee Graves though I had never seen even a picture of her. Somehow I knew that we were destined to meet again at some point in time. Ten years went by before our next meeting. As I was looking over the list of potential speakers for the Mother’s and Father’s of the Faith Mentoring Clinic which was soon coming up I saw her name and knew she was the one. She was happy to come and bless us at that event.
It goes without saying that Eleanor knows how to get and keep the attention of her audience. She admitted right away that she was not the best teller of jokes, but she did get in a couple to our delight. She made everyone feel so special as she talked about the many ways we can please God.
Eleanor is a lady of many talents and has had many careers, including a Consultant, Editor, Writer, College Administrator, Counselor, Author and Teacher. She most recently served as Professor at Middle Tennessee State University and Vol State Community College. Currently she operates the H.O.P.E. and Wellness Center at the Temple Church. She gave her life to Christ at age eleven and has taught in the church since the age of eighteen.
In the late seventies, she and her husband Dr. Michael L. Graves not long out of college pioneered and pastored Temple Baptist Church, just the two of them. It has since grown to a church of several thousand, ministering to the community and beyond. Dr Michael went home with the Lord a few years ago. He left a legacy that will continue to the end of time. Eleanor will not cease to be totally involved in seeing the legacy preserved. Those who are coming along behind her will speak of the great things God has done.
Eleanor has taught pastor’s wives on a national level and can readily identify with them in all circumstances.She has conducted workshops in the United States and Canada. She is a highly sought motivational and Women’s Day speaker as well as a Diversity Training leader. In 2000 she was selected by the Tennessee Board of regents to be a Geier Fellow. Her spiritual and educational experiences well equip her to serve. She has learned to make her spiritual life a high priority. This makes all other aspects of her life flow more smoothly.
To all the above she has the added joy of being the Mother of three, the Grandmother of four.
Dr Eleanor has influenced my life in many ways. I admire that she is articulate in all she does.She is kind and strong. She believes that excellence can be achieved if pursued. She asked me “do you know the definition of excellence?” I replied, “I think so.” She has a very simple definition with which I can agree. Excellence is “paying attention to detail.” That is what the Mother’s and Father’s of the Faith team had done in readiness for her coming. They had decorated the meeting room paying attention to every little detail. Eleanor noticed.