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'He was such a big part of our life': Franklin Graham reflects on his father's death, one year later

It's been one year since we lost America's Pastor. His son, Franklin, talked about Rev. Billy Graham's passing and the past year without him.

It's said Rev. Billy Graham preached to some 215 million people during his 99 years on Earth. He held 400 crusades and rallies in more than 185 countries and territories.

So when he died a year ago today, it's safe to say the world mourned – but also rejoiced because they knew where he was going. 

WFMY News 2's Chad Silber sat down with Franklin Graham in the family homeplace on the library grounds.

"This is the first time I've been back," reflected Franklin Graham. "And it's good to be back because we've got a lot of fond memories in this home."

There's been a lot of reflecting on moments and memories since his father died last February.

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"He was such a big part of our life," said Franklin. "Without him, it's been a bit of a hole in our life and we just miss him."

One of Franklin's most vivid memories, immediately following his father's death was the motorcade taking his casket and body from Asheville to Charlotte. Not so much the drive, rather the droves of people he saw all along it.

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"Some people on their knees, some people holding up crosses, some people holding up bibles, some just signs saying 'thank you Billy,' that was one of the most touching seeing the state of North Carolina the way they poured out to say goodbye," remembered Franklin.

It didn't take long to figure out what Franklin missed the most: Sundays. For the past 20 years, Franklin says he'd visit his father on Sundays.

"I looked forward to those Sundays," recalled Franklin. "Of course, when he passed away, I remember after the funeral that next Sunday, I woke up and I guess I'll just stay home. I'd been traveling to Montreat for so many years on Sundays all of a sudden it dawned on me he's not here."

Silber asked Franklin what’s the hardest part about the past year been.

"I sense I don't have the prayers of my father,” admitted Graham. “I think the last five years of his life so much of his ministry was praying for me, the children, grandchildren, the ministry and I just sense a loss of his prayers."

Franklin said his father's death has brought the family closer together. "As the family moves on, I think at the same time, we realize how much we need each other as I think that we have come a little closer. I know I have talked to them a lot more this past year and that's been good."

Franklin says he thinks about him often, especially on tour. "Sometimes I would just ask myself, 'if daddy were here, I wonder what he would think of this.' We were in Bangkok about 10 days ago preaching and had a huge crowd and people were so excited and I thought to myself 'my father would love to see this, he would love to be here, he'd love to be a part of this.'"

There have been plenty of visitors to the Library in the past year and they have plenty of Billy Graham memories.

"I actually went to see Billy Graham in Boston Garden years ago when I was in high school," said Jane VanHaur. She and her husband were visiting from Massachusetts.

Jane grew up listening to Graham preach. "He was just such an honest and wonderful person. You just could feel it.”

BetteLu Kline came all the way from Indiana. She remembers, clear as day, the time she met Rev. Graham while working at a hotel in high school.

She asked him for one favor.

"Would you write your name in my Bible? So, my Bible from that year has Billy Graham written in the back of it."

Silber asked how she thought his followers might feel, a year after his death.

"Hopefully their lives are still changed and they're still looking for more of Jesus, you don't know, but I don't think they'll ever forget him," said Kline.

"He just wants to be remembered as a preacher,” said Franklin Graham. “He doesn't want to be remembered as a celebrity or a world evangelist or anything like that, he's just a preacher of the gospel."

Franklin Graham is in Australia on a six-city celebration tour. He's going back to places his father preached during a six-month tour in 1959. Franklin said it was so impactful back then, he wanted to go back to preach that same gospel message.

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