Lindsey Graham's Father, FJ, Died of a Heart Attack in His Sleep
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who died after a cardiac arrest call to his home, suffered a family tragedy as a young man - his father, FJ, died of a heart attack in his sleep.
According to WGBH, both of Graham's parents died when he was a student at the University of South Carolina. "His mother, Millie Graham, died at age 52 of Hodgkin lymphoma. She was soon followed by his father, F.J. - known in his hometown of Central as 'the Dude' - who died of a heart attack at age 69. Graham's only sister, Darline, was just 13 years old," the station reported. FJ Graham died of a "massive heart attack" in his sleep, according to Politico.
Lindsey Graham's Parents Were Florence James & Millie Graham
"Lindsey Graham was born in Central, SC to Millie and Florence James 'F.J.' Graham," Study SC reports.
According to The New York Times, "Lindsey Olin Graham was born in Central, S.C., a town in the western part of the state, on July 9, 1955, the elder of two children of Florence James Graham, known as F.J., and Millie (Walters) Graham."
His parents "operated a restaurant and bar, then known as the Sanitary Cafe, that Lindsey and his sister, Darline, worked in as they grew up. The family at first lived in a room behind the establishment, eventually moving into a trailer and then into a house next door," reported The Times.
"My home was a bar," he recalled in his 2015 memoir, The Times reported, quoting Graham as saying that he "was loved inside those walls, as much as any child could be loved, by two devoted parents."
Lindsey Graham's Mom & Dad Died Within 15 Months of Each Other
In 1976, "when he was 20 and his sister was 11, his mother died of Hodgkin lymphoma; 15 months later, his father died of a heart attack," The Times reported. Graham and his sister were very close, and he even became her legal guardian so she would qualify for his military benefits.
According to ABC News, "His mother Millie succumbed to Hodgkin's lymphoma at age 52 and his father suffered a heart attack just 15 months later, at the age of 69. In order to provide insurance and benefits to his 13-year-old sister, Graham, then 21, became her legal guardian."
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jul 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published July 12, 2026 at 10:46 AM.