CHAPEL HILL – Long-time Chapel Hill attorney, William Griffin Graves, III died early Saturday morning after a short illness.  63 year-old “Griff” Graves, as he was known, had entered UNC Hospital earlier this week for back surgery.  But after the procedure, he suffered a heart attack, which required open heart surgery.  His death was the apparent result of complications from the surgery.

Ted Seagroves considered Griff Graves his best friend.

“A person with great integrity…well thought of in the community,” Seagroves said. “One of the most competitive guys I’ve ever met.”

Seagroves says Graves, who was received degrees from UNC and Wake Forest, was always loyal…

“He’s one of those guys that was loyal, almost to a fault,” Seagroves said. “He just…he would never leave your side.”

In addition to being a partner at the law firm of Higgins, Frankstone, graves & Morris, Graves was a member of the East Chapel Hill Rotary Club and active in many civic affairs.  Seagroves says you could always depend on him…

“Never…never ask a question,” Seagroves said. “He just would say…hey, we need to do this…and he would say okay…let’s go.”

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Griff Graves, dead at the age of 63.

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