William Archibald Graham was born on August 27, 1882, in Inez, North Carolina. Graham served as a major in the 120th Infantry during World War I and saw combat in the Ypres-Lys campaign. Following the war, he served as superintendent of the New Hanover County schools and the city schools in Kinston. He died Warrenton (Warren County) on December 2, 1956.