Gigi Graham

Gigi (or GiGi) Graham[1]
Born
Virginia Leftwich Graham
(1945-09-21) 21 September 1945
Montreat, North Carolina, U.S.[2]: p.95
OccupationSpeaker, author, evangelist
Alma materMary Baldwin College
Period1978–present
GenreChristiannon-fiction
Notable workA Quiet Knowing (W Publishing, 2001), Currents of the Heart (Multnomah Publishers, 1996), Passing It On (Word Publishing, 1993).
SpouseStephan Tchividjian[2]: p.95 (d. 2010) Chad Foreman[3][4]Jim Wilson (2012-)[4][5]
Children7
Relativesparents Billy Graham and Ruth Bell Graham; siblings Anne, Ruth Bell, Franklin (William Franklin III), and Nelson Edman (Ned).[2][6][7]

Virginia Leftwich “Gigi” Graham Tchividjian, also known as Virginia Leftwich “Gigi” Graham Foreman[4][1] (born September 21, 1945), the eldest child of the late Billy Graham and the late Ruth Bell Graham,[2]: p.95 is an American Christian author with more than 10 published books, who has, in addition, a developed "speaking... ministry".[4] Her book-length writings include several coauthored by Ruth Bell Graham.[8][9]

Early life and education

Virginia Leftwich Graham[5] was born in 1945,[4] in Montreat, North Carolina on September 21 of that year, to Billy and Ruth Bell Graham.[2]: p.95 In addition to Gigi, the Grahams had four more children: Anne, Ruth Bell, Franklin (William Franklin III), and Nelson Edman (Ned).[2][6][7]

Just prior to her thirteenth birthday, Gigi left to attend a boarding school,[1]Hampden DuBose Academy, in Zellwood, Florida, where Billy Graham's close friends and colleagues, the brothers T.W. and Grady Wilson, had sent their children (and where one of Gigi's best friend was going).[2]: p.250 After four years, there Gigi returned home, but soon transitioned to begin college, at Wheaton College, in Wheaton, Illinois, which she began, with boyfriend Jim Wilson (son of T.W.), shortly after her seventeenth birthday.[2]: p.298

In that same year (1962), Stephan Tchividjian, son of a wealthy Swiss-Armenian convert to Christianity from Montreaux, Switzerland, who supported Billy Grahams ministry and had hosted the Graham family in the summer of 1960, reached out to Billy and Ruth Graham family, seeking their permission to be in contact with their daughter, with a proposal for marriage.[2]: p.297f (Seven years her senior, and thinking it "unseemely to approach a girl so young", Tchividjian had for some time "hesitated making direct contact".[2]: p.297f ) Gigi's parents delayed communicating the proposal until the Christmas holidays of that year, leading to Gigi's insistence that she be allowed to meet with Stephan, which led to his invitation to join the Graham's for Christmas; after a time which she described as "days either on my knees or sitting in my window seat... seeking God's direction", she concluded that "the Lord has told me to say yes", and arranged, to the surprise of Stephan, in accommodation with the elder Graham's ministry schedule, to be married the following May, in Switzerland.[2]: p.298f

In addition to having attended Wheaton College,[2]: p.298 she is reported to have attended Mary Baldwin College. Sometime after their wedding, Stephan and Gigi returned to the United States.[4]

Career

After leaving Switzerland for America, and in the course of having and raising her children (see following), Gigi, then married to Stephan Tchividjian, began writing out her thoughts during a period of depression, "on scraps of paper between household tasks".[4] This began a process that culminated in her completing more than 10 books (see following), and her "develop[ing] an inspirational speaking and writing ministry".[4]

Personal life

Graham was married to the late Stephan Tchividjian, with whom she had seven children: Stephan, Berdjette (now Berdjette Barker), Basyle ("Boz"), Tullian, Aram, Jerushah (now Jerushah Duford), and Antony.[10] She and Stephan later divorced, which was followed by a second marriage and divorce, and then, in 2012, to a renewed relationship and marriage to Jim Wilson, whom she had originally dated before and in her first year at Wheaton College.[4][3]

Controversy

On July 1, 2005, Virginia Graham Foreman was arrested and charged with misdemeanor domestic abuse in an incident involving her husband, Chad Foreman; she was released on her own recognizance the following day.[3] Following a legal case, she was placed on one year’s probation and ordered to complete a domestic violence evaluation, complete doctor-recommended treatment/ counselling and pay $100 for prosecution costs; she was also barred from possessing a weapon.[11]

Published works

The following is a list of books published by Gigi Graham (under that and other names):[12]

  • Tchividjian, Gigi (1979). Thank You, Lord, for My Home. Minneapolis MN: World Wide Publications. ISBN 9780890660232. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  • Tchividjian, Stephan; Tchividjian, Gigi (1981). Our Search for Serenity. Minneapolis MN: World Wide Publications. Retrieved November 5, 2025. Note, the presented weblink confounds this volume- showing a thumbnail of its cover, which makes clear the two authors and the publisher - with Gigi Tchividjian's A Woman's Quest for Serenity (see following). For a 1983 edition presenting Stephan Tchividjian as sole author of this work, see this link.
  • Tchividjian, Gigi Graham (1982). A Woman's Quest for Serenity. Ada, MI: Revell. ISBN 9780800751029. Retrieved November 5, 2025. Note, at Google Books, the cover/title page thumbnail image for this book confounds it with the preceding work, having Stephan Tchividjian as a coauthor.
  • ——— (1984). Sincerely - Gigi. Contemporary Evangelical Perspectives. Grand Rapids, MI: Daybreak Books-Zondervan. ISBN 9780310448501. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  • Diapers and Dishes or Pinstripes and Pumps: Christian Women in a Changing World[12]
  • (1991) Weather of the Heart: Glimpses of God in Sunlight and StormISBN 0-88-070447-0.[13][14]
  • (1992) Passing It on: Four Generations of Graham TraditionsISBN 1-56-977500-1.[13][14]
  • (1992) Marriage: Questions Women Ask.
  • (1993) A Search for Serenity: Encouragement for Your Weary DaysISBN 0-80-108908-5.[13]
  • (1996) Currents of the Heart: Glimpses of God in the Stream of LifeISBN 1-56-977500-1.[12][14]
  • (1997) Coffee and Conversation With Ruth Bell Graham and Gigi Graham TchividjianISBN 1-56-955041-7.[12]
  • (1998) Mothers Together with Ruth Bell Graham ISBN 0-80-101166-3.[12][14]
  • (2000) Weatherproof Your HeartISBN 0-80-078673-4.[13][12][14]
  • (2001) For Women Only: Keeping Your Balance in a Changing WorldISBN 0-80-106360-4.[13]
  • (2005) A Quiet Knowing with Ruth Bell Graham ISBN 08-49-90608-3.[14]
  • (2008) Prodigal and Those Who Love Them: Word of Encouragement for Those Who Wait with Ruth Bell Graham ISBN 0-80-107155-0.[12]

References

  1. ^ abcA noted biographer of Billy Graham, William C. Martin, renders the name as "GiGi", see Martin (2023), op. cit.
  2. ^ abcdefghijklMartin, William C. (2023) [1991, 2018]. A Prophet with Honor: The Billy Graham Story (updated, unabridged ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: HarperChristian. ISBN 9780310353324. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  3. ^ abcWRAL Staff (July 8, 2005). "Evangelist Billy Graham's Daughter Arrested For Spousal Abuse". WRALNews.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  4. ^ abcdefghiNeff, David (ed.) & CH Staff (2014). "The Next Generation"(issue PDF). Christian History (111 (special issue, "Billy Graham, Apostle of Changed Lives and Second Chances")). Worcester, PA: Christian History (CH) Institute. pp. 2f, 26. Retrieved November 5, 2025. Virginia Leftwich "Gigi" Graham Foreman (b. 1945) married Swiss-Armenian Stephan Tchividjian at the tender age of 17. But life in Switzerland proved intolerable under her father-in-law's domineering influence. They fled to America and had seven children. Gigi became depressed and began to write on scraps of paper between household tasks. Eventually she completed 10 books and developed an inspirational speaking and writing ministry. After she and Stephan divorced, she married and divorced a private investigator, and in 2012 wedded childhood friend Jim Wilson, son of her father's constant companion T. W. Wilson. For the web link to access this PDF, see this link.
  5. ^ ab"The Next Generation". Christian History Institute. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  6. ^ abFor mentions of the children in the Martin (2023) biography, see pp. 662ff, 157, 205, 297, and passim.
  7. ^ abStewart, Jocelyn Y. (June 15, 2007). "Ruth Graham, 87; Had Active Role as Wife of Famed Evangelist"(obituary). The Los Angeles Times (LATimes.com). p. B.10. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  8. ^"A Quiet Knowing". Amazon. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  9. ^"Coffee and Conversation". Amazon. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  10. ^Regarding the adult lives and careers of the children, see the following sources.—Basyle "Boz" Tchividjian: A lawyer, law professor, and founder of Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE), see Joyce, Kathryn (May 5, 2014). "The Next Christian Sex-Abuse Scandal". The American Prospect (Prospect.org). Retrieved November 6, 2025. [Teaser:] As sex-abuse allegations multiply, Billy Graham's grandson [Boz Tchividjian] is on a mission to persuade Protestant churches to come clean.; —Tullian Tchividjian: A sometime church pastor active in various ministries, see Blair, Leonardo (March 17, 2016). "Willow Creek [Winter Springs, Florida] Fires Tullian Tchvidjian After He Confesses to Another Affair". Christian Post. Retrieved April 27, 2016.; —Jerushah Duford: An "evangelical author, speaker and member of Lincoln Women, see "I'm Billy Graham's granddaughter. Evangelical support for Donald Trump insults his legacy". USA Today. August 5, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2023..
  11. ^"Graham's daughter may have charges dismissed". The Alabama Baptist. December 22, 2005. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  12. ^ abcdefg"Gigi Graham". Amazon. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  13. ^ abcde"Gigi Graham Tchividjian". Good Reads. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  14. ^ abcdef"Gigi Graham Tchividjian". ABE Books. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
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