Dorothy Jean Graves Salhany passed away peacefully Tuesday evening, June 23, 2026 at the age of 98. Dorothy was born October 24, 1927 to pastor Cecil Frank Graves and his wife, Lucile Whiteneck Graves.
Seventh-day Adventist pastor C. F. Graves was pastor in Lawrence County, TN for many years. Dorothy told stories of her childhood growing up on Tripp Road just north of present day NHC Scott.
Dorothy studied to be a teacher. On June 5, 1949 she graduated from Southern Missionary College in Collegedale, TN. Her graduation diploma shows that she completed the Elementary Teacher Training Curriculum there.
Dorothy enjoyed travel and visited many far off places during her life. She married P. J. Salhany on June 5, 1950, the day after Commencement Exercises at Southern Missionary College in Collegedale, TN where he graduated as he completed his training as a gospel minister. They immediately began to travel doing evangelism in Alabama and Kentucky.
Two sons joined the family. Wayne Fremont in 1952 and Edwin Alan in 1954. The family took passage on a ship from New York to Beira on the east coast of Africa in 1960, eventually moving to the land-locked country of Nyasaland for missionary work. In her travels Dorothy visited many countries in Africa, Asia and Europe and also the continent of Australia.
Of her siblings, Dorothy was youngest. Her husband, parents and two brothers, Sanford Graves and Otis Graves preceded her in death. Her living offspring consists of her two sons, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Counting in-laws and step children her family was large.
A time for remembrance and reflection is planned for August 15, 2026 at 3:00 pm at the Lawrenceburg SDA Church on Buffalo Road in Lawrenceburg.
Williams Funeral Home is honored to serve the Salhany family. Condolences may be shared at www.williamsfh.com
