MONTREAT, N.C. (AP) — The Rev. Billy Graham, counselor to presidents and the most widely heard Christian evangelist in history, has died at age 99.
Spokesman Mark DeMoss tell The Associated Press that Graham died Wednesday morning at his home in Montreat, North Carolina.
He had been treated in recent years for cancer, pneumonia and other ailments. His wife, Ruth, died in 2007. Graham reached more than 200 million through his appearances and millions more through his pioneering use of television and radio.
Unlike many traditional evangelists, he abandoned narrow fundamentalism to engage broader society. His message and service to U.S. presidents from Dwight Eisenhower to George W. Bush earned him the nickname “America’s Pastor.” In 1995 his Evangelistic Association designated his son William Franklin Graham III as the ministry’s leader.
The original Evangelical scam artist dead a 99 years old? Proof that only the good die young.
FIFY, AP.
Graham senior may have been somewhat OK; Graham Jr is frankly (ahem) evil.
In his day, he worked hard to overcome racial segregation in the church.
Daiyenu: That alone would have been enough.
There will now be one Hell of a funeral.
Wait, you left five words off the end of the headline.
“…and goes straight to hell.”