Sen. Lindsey Graham’s Memorial Services Announced as Sister Darline Graham Takes Senate Seat

Later this month the nation will pause to remember Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died suddenly on July 11. The family and staff have set two separate memorials – one in Washington, D.C., and another in South Carolina, the state he called home.

According to his office, the Washington ceremony is slated for Tuesday, July 28, and will most likely be held at the historic Washington National Cathedral, though a precise address hasn’t been released yet. A day later, on Wednesday, July 29, South Carolinians will gather in Columbia, the state capital, and in Pickens County, the area where Graham grew up and represented.

Graham, a five‑term Republican who was a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, was born in Central, South Carolina, in 1955 and graduated from Daniel High School in 1973. Preliminary medical examiner findings say he succumbed to an aortic dissection linked to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

In an unexpected move just days after the senator’s death, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Graham’s sister, Darline Graham, to fill the vacant seat. Trump praised the decision, calling it a “fabulous tribute” to his late friend.

During a Fox News interview on Monday, Darline said she plans to run in the upcoming special‑primary election, seeking a full six‑year term while completing her brother’s unexpired portion. “I’ve been praying a lot, talking to my family,” she said. “I feel an inner peace about it. Will it be difficult? Yes, absolutely, but I’m ready.”

Darline, a Lexington resident, has spent nearly three decades serving South Carolinians. She’s the commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, sits on the State Workforce Development Board, and is president‑elect of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind. Her résumé also includes stints at Clemson University and the governor’s office.

The special‑election primary is set for Aug. 11, selecting the Republican nominee for the Nov. 3 general election. If no candidate wins an outright majority, a runoff will follow two weeks later.

Additional details about the memorial services, including exact venues and times, are expected to be released in the coming days.