MRS. NINA GRAHAM CATES, 87 years old, was born on May 8, 1934 in Newberry, SC to the late Audrey (Gallmon) and Johnny Graham. She departed this life at home, after a lengthy illness, on Sunday April 3, 2022.

She and her family relocated from Newberry, SC to Greensboro, NC in her very early years. She graduated from Dudley High School in 1951, Bennett College in 1955 with a degree in Music and Columbia University in New York for her Masters degree in 1962. She dedicated her professional years as a music teacher for several school systems with many of those years for the Guilford County school system where she taught chorus and piano lessons privately. She retired from Guilford County School System. She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She thoroughly enjoyed nurturing any type of plant, cooking and spending time with her grandchildren, and other family/friends.

She married Horace Cates in May 1959, lived in Brooklyn NY and they raised their only child Horace D. Cates there prior to relocating to Greensboro, NC in 1964.

She is survive by her son Horace D. Cates and his wife Shirley Cates of Greensboro; grandsons, Cameron Cates, and Zachery Cates; grand daughter Rachel Cates and great grand daughter; Aryia Cates-Phifer. She is preceded in death by her husband Horace Cates; her parents Audrey and Johnny Graham of Greensboro, NC, her siblings; Thomas Graham (Lois) of Greensboro NC; Melvin Graham (Tina) of Brooklyn, NY, George "Leet" Graham (Margie) of Greensboro, NC, Margaret Ann Owens (Asa) of Greensboro, NC and Hubert Graham (Naomi) of Greensboro, NC and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and dear friends.

A service honoring her life will be held on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at 1:30 pm in the Cassie Coote-Brown Memorial Chapel.

Visitation will begin at 1:00 pm.

Interment: Lakeview Memorial Park