Alwana Vaughan, Graham’s All American Girl, Makes Her Final Bow.

Alwana Vaughan was born Feb. 26, 1915, in Bridgeport, Texas, to the late James and Mitta Ophelia McKnight Wood. She was the granddaughter of pioneer citizens of Graham. Her paternal grandfather, John Henderson Wood, was an Indian Scout at Fort Belknap from 1852-1854, a Texas Ranger, and an officer in the army of the Confederate States of America.

After the close of the War Between the State she, his wife Mary, and baby James joined a wagon train to California and farmed in what is now Orange County for a short period of time. In 1876, John H. Wood moved his family back to Texas and settled in Graham, where he started the Wood Brick Factory. Son James followed in his father’s footsteps, became a master brick mason, and built homes, barns, silos, and commercial buildings throughout North Central Texas. Many of these structures still stand and are in use today.

Alwana’s maternal grandfather, William Newton McKnight, settled near Caseyville in 1872 claiming land in the Brazos Indian Reserve to begin farming.

Alwana Wood married Alfred Lilburn Vaughan, a petroleum land man, on June 23, 1935, at Altus, Oklahoma. The couple moved to Graham in 1951. He preceded her in death on June 14, 1993.

Alwana’s early music training began with private lessons from her beloved aunt, Addie Johnson Wood, one of Graham’s first music teachers. The lessons continued until Aunt Addie’s untimely death. There after she continued her studies with Lillie Mae Calvin McKaig, daughter of Tom and Wildie Calvin.     

While Alwana’s early lessons gave her the rudiments of piano and vocal technique, her greatest teacher was she herself. She read every piece of sheet music that came her way and practiced until the work was polished to her satisfaction. She discovered a player piano and was fascinated by the way the keys responded to the perforations in the piano roll. After seeing and hearing the device, she imitated the results—and carried the tricks she learned to other pieces as well.

Alwana never learned music in a vacuum. Starting at the age of 10, Alwana played the piano and sang for events throughout the city. She stopped doing so only in her late 90’s, when failing eyesight made reading music too difficult. She accompanied W.D. McFarlane, who loved to sing, on many occasions. McFarlane, Mary Pitcock’s father, was a Congressman from this district and one of Graham’s most distinguished citizens.

Alwana began contributing her musical talents to Graham’s religious life at a precocious age. She played for church events at the First Baptist Church, where she has been a member for 89 years. She worked with the first Living Christmas Tree production, coordinating the secular part of the show for many years. Although a Baptist, she was called into service for the Lord’s Acre project at First United Methodist Church. She played the piano in the back end of a truck at the annual event. She has played the piano for countless weddings and funerals, free of charge. When asked how many, she replies, “Honey, I couldn’t count them if I tried.”

Alwana served on the planning committee for Graham’s Centennial Celebration in 1972 and planned or scheduled most of the musical events. Her music students comprised a large part of the entertainment.

Her work with young people is a modern legend in Graham. She could take frightened, shy youngsters in hand, instill them with confidence and love of music, and turn them loose on both the stage and the world. She taught music privately for 25 years. After retiring from private teaching in 1976, she continued to be active in the musical productions at Graham High School. She is an honorary member of the Thespians Society and the Graham High School Band. She assisted Jack Cody with the All-American Girl Pageant every year for 30 years. Working with contestants who had little or no formal music training, she whipped up a song they could learn, she taught them how to sing and played as their accompanist (before the days of music tapes).To determine the actual number of young, aspiring singers she has given confidence-building music lessons, free of charge, would be impossible.

Another of her passions is the Graham Regional Theatre Summer Musical Program. She attended every rehearsal for the GRT Summer Musical from 2002 to 2012 and after that as often as she could, offering her unique knowledge of dance, music and general stage presence to numerous beginner and seasoned performers.

In 2000, Alwana was given the Hero For Children award by the State of Texas. The honor was presented by the Commissioner of Education for the State of Texas at a special event at Austin. Her club affiliations are numerous. She has been a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution for more than 60 years. She served as regent, chaplain and music coordinator. In addition, she also organized Children of the American Revolution and worked with them for countless years.

Alwana is a charter member of the Graham Hospital Auxiliary, which organized in 1958 and has been a recipient of their service awards on many occasions. The ardent musician has been a member of Graham Concert Association since its beginning. Her longtime assignment as arrangement chairman required that she made sure all guests artists were welcomed, fed and had everything they needed. In the early years of the association, her piano was sometimes used for a concert before the auditorium had its own grand piano. She hears regularly from many artists who have come to Graham to perform. They have never forgotten the warm welcome they received from this tiny, dynamic woman who made them feel at home. She is an honorary Rotarian who played for the Rotary Follies for several years, and she has helped with almost every production in some way.

She was the official Chamber of Commerce accompanist and entertainer for many years and played for luncheon meetings. These “gigs” were in addition to playing for the Lady Lions Club, Kiwanis, and other luncheons in the American Legion Building for as long as people can remember--some after having both shoulders and both knees replaced.

Alwana said when Henry Cisneros spoke at the Graham Chamber of Commerce a number of years ago, she played “Misty” on the piano just as he was about to speak. She played herself out without finishing the song. After Cisneros spoke, he went to the piano and picked up exactly where Alwana left off and finished the song. Afterwards, he told her how much he enjoyed her music during the dinner. She has many more stories like this.

Her walls and closets are filled with certificates of appreciation. She has twice been named Outstanding Citizen by the Graham Chamber of Commerce.

Alwana was preceded in death by her parents; her husband,  A. Lilburn Vaughan; and one sister Mary Wood Canfield. 

Alwana is survived by second cousins Bullitt Fitzhugh and wife Lynne and their children of Colorado Springs, Colorado, James T. Leak and wife Kathleen of Alamo, California; and first cousin Patsy Barnhardt of Odessa, Texas. She leaves no direct descendants by blood, but everyone she taught, coached, or encouraged will forever be her child.

She passed away Friday, April 29, 2016, at the age of 101. A memorial service, or as Alwana would call it, her Final Bow, will be held at the Graham Memorial Auditorium, 628 Third St., Graham, Texas. Wednesday, May 4, 2016, at 2 p.m., doors open 1 p.m. Burial to follow in Oak Grove Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to: Alwana’s Garden, Graham Memorial Auditorium, P. O. Box 1449, Graham, TX 76450 or Alwana Vaughan Memorial Scholarship,  c/o First United Methodist Church, 700 Third Street, Graham, TX 76450.