Graham-Henson

Published 12:50 am Sunday, September 21, 2008

Christy Grace Graham and William Henson were united in marriage in a double-ring ceremony on the gorgeous afternoon of Saturday, April 26. Vows were made at First Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Prattville. The Rev. Daren Scott Dietmeier officiated at the 2 p.m. service of Christian marriage. This wedding was the first marriage solemnized in the church’s newly-constructed sanctuary.

The bride is the daughter of Reverend and Mrs. Donald William Graham of Clanton. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Ollis Edwin (“Jack”) Harrell of Montevallo and the late Mr. and Mrs. William Emmanuel Graham of Birmingham.

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Henson of Prattville. He is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. George Han Henson of Anniston and the late Mr. and Mrs. Shintaro Yanagi of Kobe, Japan. The parents of the groom, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Henson, entertained the entire wedding party with a rehearsal dinner on Friday, April 25, at First Presbyterian Church.

The bride was lovely in a vintage wedding gown worn by her mother on June 18, 1966. The gown of organza and Chantilly lace, cut on traditional, princess lines, was pointed at the waist having long lace sleeves, with a chapel-length train in a ruffled cascade of lace and organza. The bride’s veil of illusion was attached to a tiara of lace encrusted with seed pearls. Her veil was lovingly handmade by her maternal grandmother, the late Mrs. Clara Thomas Payne Harrell, in 1966 for the June 18 wedding of the bride’s mother. She carried a cascading bouquet, consisting of a dozen white roses and greenery clasped together with white chiffon ribbon, and affixed to a white Bible.

Angela Ruth Graham, sister of the bride, served as Matron of Honor. Miss Dora Pratt Henson, Miss Kathleen Jule Henson of Prattville and Mrs. Tracy Lynn Jarman of Columbus, Ga., daughters of the groom, served as bridesmaids. The wedding party attire and flowers were chosen by the bride to replicate her parent’s wedding, and in so doing, to honor their faithfulness and loyalty to each other.

Mr. Leo Henson, father of the groom, served as best man. Groomsmen were Mr. J.B. Burt III (Ty) of Prattville, nephew of the groom, Mr. George Henson of Cumming, Ga., and Mr. John Henson of Prattville, brothers of the groom.

Miss Lydia Ruth Graham of Birmingham, niece of the bride, served as flower girl in the ceremony. Miss Rebecca Anne Graham, niece of the bride, of Birmingham, was an honorary flower girl. The ring bearer was Master Samuel Richard Graham, nephew of the bride, of Birmingham.

Ushers and Scripture readers were Mr. John Mark Graham, brother of the bride and Mr. Robert Rick Harris, cousin of the bride. The commencement of the ceremony featured Master Samuel Richard Graham and Master John William Graham, the bride’s nephews, ringing the hour with hand bells to the melody of the Westminster Chimes.

Mr. William Maurice Harper, director of music and worship arts at First Presbyterian Church, served as director of the wedding choir and also was a soloist. The 30-voice wedding choir consisted of the Chancel Choir of the First Presbyterian Church, as well as friends and relatives of the bride and groom. Dr. Anthony Philip Pattin, the bride’s former piano teacher and professor of piano at the University of Montevallo, was the principal pianist for the prelude and ceremony. Master John William Graham and Mr. J.B. Burt III (Ty) also played selected prenuptial pieces. Other prelude and ceremony musicians were Mrs. Lisa Lowery Vines, vocalist, Mr. Chris Culpepper, trumpet, Mr. Robert Gene Ramsay, trumpeter, Mrs. Beth Hoener, violinist, and Ms. Greta Champlin, cellist.

Following the wedding, a reception was held in the church’s Fellowship Hall. Hostesses were Mrs. Peggy Ann Carnaggio, Mrs. Clara Elaine Cox, Mrs. Betty Gayle Holcombe, Mrs. Otha Nell Holcombe, Mrs. Carolyn Edwina Linderman, aunts of the bride, and Mrs. Deborah Lynn Richardson, cousin of the bride. The hostesses were the bridesmaids and flower girl at the June 1966 wedding of the bride’s parents. The design of the wedding cake was also reflective of her parents’ wedding cake.

At the conclusion of the reception, amid a throng of exuberant well-wishers, the couple departed for their honeymoon, riding double on a Harley Davidson motorcycle belonging to the groom. Upon the return from their wedding trip to Maggie Valley, N.C., the couple settled in Prattville.