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Who was Curtis Graves? Civil rights activist and 'RHOP' star Gizelle Bryant's father dies at 84

In 2020, Gizelle Bryant gushed over her father Curtis Grave on Bravo TV, 'My dad was very involved with the Civil Rights movement in Houston'

ATLANTA, GEORGIA: The ‘Real Housewives of Potomac’ star Gizelle Bryant, 52, took to Instagram on Friday, July 28, to announce the death of her father, Curtis Graves. The former Texas State Representative and civil rights activist was 84 at the time of his demise on Wednesday, July 26.

Bryant shared a heartwarming photo of her father along with her and her three daughters. The photo was accompanied by a short message that reads, "Thank you for being the best Dad that a little girl could ever want or need," before adding, "I will miss you every day of my life ❤️"

Who was Curtis Graves?

Graves was known for being more than a parent figure to Bryant. Born on August 26, 1983, to Joseph and Mable Graves, he was an accomplished civil rights activist and former politician from the state of Texas. Graves studied at the prestigious institutions of Texas Southern University and Princeton University.

Initially, Graves was married to Joanne Graves with whom he had three children. Later, he married Kay Bryant, with whom he was residing in Atlanta, Georgia, before his demise. However, the timelines of both these events haven't been confirmed. 

Graves was a decorated member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1967 to 1973 as a Democrat as he was just one of the three African-American members to be elected since the Reconstruction in 1896. During the Civil Rights Movement, Graves also exerted a major impact while working with Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Graves was a multifaceted talent as he also served as the Director for Civil Affairs for NASA's academic affairs division. Before his death, he was working as an artistic photographer. 

Graves was recognized by Congress “for his lifelong career of public service and for his many contributions to our nation” in July 2015, as per People. US Senator and Maryland Congressman during the time, Chris Van Hollen said previously, "On behalf of the people of Maryland's Eighth Congressional District, and in anticipation of his seventy-seventh birthday on August 26, 2015, I would like to thank Curtis M. Graves for his lifelong career of public service and for his many contributions to our nation," before adding, "I wish him and his family all the best in the years to come."

‘Proud Daughter’

Bryant has never been afraid to express her pride in her father's professional accomplishments. She once tweeted a vintage photo of Graves seated next to Dr King Jr, captioning it, "Love this! Daughter with pride!"

In 2020, she gushed about her father on Bravo TV, where she was found saying, “My dad was very involved with the Civil Rights movement years ago in Houston,” before adding, “For my daughters, this is the third generation. My dad was working 60 years ago and he worked with Martin Luther King.” Bryant continued, “For me, my second job out of college was working for the national headquarters of the NAACP and now it’s my daughters," per Page Six.