THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 25, 1994 TAG: 9409240105
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Business
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
EVELYNE H. GRAHAM gets around - and she takes a busload of people with her.
Once or twice a month they head in all directions, usually to have dinner and see a play.
For Graham, 65, it is a labor of love - certainly not a profit-making venture. She is a one-person, non-profit organization.
``I charge the exact amount of the expense,'' she said, ``whatever I have to pay.''
Sometimes, she says, she comes out on the losing end.
``I got stung on a visit to the Virginia Air and Space Museum. We didn't have enough people.''
The cost per trip depends on destination.
``Our cost is cheap,'' Graham said, ``because we don't have to hire a driver. The driver we use - he's from Norfolk - owns the bus and gives me the best rates.''
The passengers, whom she refers to as ``my people,'' enjoy themselves coming and going - she makes sure of that.
``I distribute song sheets,'' Graham said - ``golden oldies.''
Most of her passengers fit that description.
``I've been doing this for two years, beginning with trips for the Chesapeake Retired Teachers Association,'' Graham said. ``Then the Suffolk Retired Teachers Association came in, then the American Association of Retired Persons.
``Now, it's also friends and neighbors,'' she said, ``anyone who wants to go.''
They will go to the Swift Creek Mill Dinner Theater on Wednesday for the state premiere of a new musical, ``Forever Plaid.'' More time-honored fare is scheduled for Oct. 9 when the Portsmouth Little Theater offers ``Once Upon a Mattress.''
Graham's current schedule goes up to Nov. 12 - 1995 that is - for whatever the Smithfield Little Theater may be offering then.
That is a favored destination.
``I bought 40 season tickets for the 1994-95 season to assure good seats,'' Graham said.
Bus trips assure convenience, she insists.
``The advantage over a car - no worry about parking or walking,'' Graham said, ``and that's especially handy on rainy days.''
Most of her days have been involved with education. The 1950 Elon College graduate taught math and science in Chesapeake and was assistant principal for instruction at the Chesapeake Alternative School.
``I retired in 1989 after 34 years in education,'' said Graham, whose husband, Walter, also retired, served as principal of Olive Branch Elementary School in Portsmouth.
She is not even close to actual retirement.
``I'm on the adjunct faculty at Old Dominion University,'' said Graham, who lives on Normandy Drive in Suffolk. ``I teach basic education at Chesapeake General Hospital and St. Mary's Infant Home in Norfolk.''
She is an ``education-is-my-life'' type person, a lifetime member of the Virginia Retired Educators Association and the Virginia and National Educators Association.
Graham is a member of the Suffolk and Chesapeake Retired Teachers Associations, a member of three sororities, and organizer and first president of the Tidewater Council for Mathematics Supervisors.
Those same years she served as president of the Virginia Association for Curriculum and Development.
Graham's list of ``things-to-keep-me-busy'' is amazing:
Meals on Wheels, president of Friends of the Library, a member of the Blood and Finance committees of the American Red Cross, member of the Prime Time Singers, chairman of Trips and Tours for the American Association of Retired Persons, editor of the Nansemond Gardens/Willowbrook Civic Association Newsletter, director of the junior choir at Bethlehem Christian Church, member of the church's Chancel Choir, coordinator of the Salvation Army soup kitchen, lunch coordinator for Habitat for Humanity, caretaker of the family garden.
``I'm crocheting lap robes for Autumn Care Nursing Home residents,'' Graham said. ``I've done 40 and have 40 more to go. If you want to crochet, let me know.'' MEMO: Evelyne M. Graham's next trip will be a visit to Swift Creek Mill
Playhouse in Colonial Heights on Wednesday for a 2:30 p.m. performance
of the musical ``Forever Plaid.'' The production will be preceded by a
luncheon. The cost of the bus trip, play and lunch is $35. The bus
leaves Suffolk Plaza shopping center on North Main Street, in front of
the old Montgomery Ward store, at 10:50 a.m. Windsor passengers will be
picked up at 11:20 a.m. For information, call 539-5614.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Evelyne Graham takes a busload with her when she goes out to dinner
and the theater.
KEYWORDS: PROFILE
by CNB