The Benham UMC in our Harlan County Cluster is greatly blessed to have Paul Graham and Dr. Milo Schosser as "elder statesmen" in the Church Family. Paul is 93 and Milo is 88, and both have been active members in the Benham UMC for over 60 years.

Paul grew up in Virginia, and Milo grew up in Illinois and it was the coal mining industry that drew them to Benham and Harlan County. Paul is proud to have been a "coal miner" with International Harvester, and working his way up to foreman when he retired several years ago. Milo came to Benham in Sept., 1941, (just 3 months before Pearl Harbor) to serve as a Family Doctor with all those working for International Harvester.

Paul and his late wife, Carmen, were married for 56 years, when she passed 11 years go. They have one son and one daughter.

Milo and his late wife, Ruth, were married for 63 years, when she passed this May. They have 4 children (3 sons and 1 daughter), along with 9 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

Paul says that his ministry in the Benham UMC is "taking older people to the Doctor". He sings in the Choir, and has a great sense of humor. He's looking forward to the Ky. Conf. UM Men's Retreat this fall (Oct. 15-16) at Jabez, Ky.

Milo is a veteran of WW II, serving with a MASH unit in the South Pacific. He and his wife, Nurse Ruth, delivered many babies during their work in Benham.

Terry Faris, Corbin D.S., had lunch with them at the Benham School House Inn on Sunday, May 30, and what a joy to sit between almost 200 years of history and just listen. What a joy to see so many people from the Tri-City Area (Benham, Cumberland, Lynch) come over and speak to these wonderful life-long servants of Jesus, with hand shakes, hugs, smiles, and words of affirmation and appreciation. Loving relationships with lots of people is what life is all about…loving God and loving people!

In the enclosed photo of Paul and Milo, how appropriate to see the flags behind them; they love their country and they love their church, and also the "2 candles" on the wall, as they "let their light shine before people."

Paul and Milo are "like trees planted by the rivers of water, who continue to bring forth fruit in the seasons of their lives" Psalm 1:3.