Billy Graham’s wife in a coma: Where will she rest?

I was on the phone with an editor at Christianity Today yesterday when the news of Ruth Graham’s failing health was breaking. Her husband, the famed evangelist Billy Graham, founded CT 50 plus years ago, and since then he has led the evangelical wing of Christianity, if not always physically at least spiritually.

The word today is that Ruth Graham is in a coma, waiting patiently for the gates of heaven to open. There was much speculation yesterday about where she would be buried: The Washington Post reported in December that she didn’t want to be buried in Charlotte at the plot selected by her husband but in the mountains where she raised five children.

But, according to a statement from Billy Graham on the Web site of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Ruth recently changed her mind about her earthly body’s final resting place:

Earlier this spring, after much prayer and discussion, Ruth and I made the decision to be buried beside each other at the Billy Graham Library in my hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina.

We have held this decision privately and only decided to announce it now that she is close to going home to Heaven.

Ruth is my soul mate and best friend, and I cannot imagine living a single day without her by my side. I am more in love with her today than when we first met over 65 years ago as students at Wheaton College.

Ruth and I appreciate, more than we can express, the prayers and letters of encouragement we have received from people across the country and around the world. Our entire family has been home in recent days and it has meant so much to have them at our side during this time. We love each one of them dearly and thank God for them.