JASPER, Ga. – Former Northwest football defensive coordinator Robert G. McGraw, Jr. passed away on Monday, Jan. 13, according to family members.

McGraw, 81, will be laid to rest on Saturday, Jan. 18 at Roper Funeral Home in Jasper at 4 p.m., immediately following the visitation at 2 p.m.

McGraw's coaching career spanned over 40 years, including his stint at Northwest, where he served as defensive coordinator for all-time winningest coach Bobby Franklin from 1990-1997. During his eight-year term commanding the Ranger defense, McGraw helped Northwest to the 1992 NJCAA National Championship, a national runner-up finish in 1991, two MACJC titles and four north division championships.

McGraw coached 66 All-MACJC selections, 17 NJCAA All-Region 23 honorees and 13 NJCAA and JC Gridwire All-Americans. Many of those players went on to have notable college and pro careers, including NFL Draft selections Cletidus Hunt (Green Bay), Emarlos Leroy (Jacksonville), Bryant Mix (Houston/Tennessee, Tampa Bay), Fred Thomas (Seattle, New Orleans) and Northwest Sports Hall of Famer Cassius Ware (Ole Miss).

Born in Vardaman, Miss., McGraw's coaching experience also includes several stops at fellow MACJC programs East Mississippi and Holmes, with stints with Ole Miss, Louisiana Tech and East Tennessee State. Additionally, he also coached in the Mississippi high school ranks at Hazlehurst and the former Moorhead High School.

Years before joining Franklin's staff, McGraw served as head football coach for his alma mater Delta State from 1974-77. He posted a 22-19-1 overall record while coaching 17 All-Gulf South Conference selections and four NAIA All-Americans. Prior to his head coaching tenure, he also spent three seasons as the Statesmen's defensive coordinator under coach Horace McCool.

Prior to his coaching career, McGraw played football and baseball at DSU and was inducted into the school's Alumni Coaches Hall of Fame in 2015. He earned his bachelor's and masters' degrees from Delta State in 1961 and later in 1970.

McGraw is survived by his wife, Mary Neeley McGraw of Jasper; son and daughter-in-law, Robert G. McGraw, III and Shari McGraw of Marietta; son, Ronald Lee McGraw of Jasper; sister, Faye Blackston of Anderson, South Carolina; grandchildren, Matthew McGraw, Madeline McGraw, Kaitlyn MacDonald, Heather Rhen; great-grandchild, Anthony McGraw; and several nieces, nephews and other relatives.

McGraw's family requests donations be made in lieu of flowers to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Other condolences can be left on the Tribute Wall at roperfuneralhome.com.