Mrs. Diyonne L. McGraw has lived in Gainesville, Alachua County for nearly 22 years upon graduating from Florida A & M University. And, in that time, Mrs. McGraw has quietly given her service and dedication to the citizens of Alachua County. She is a promoter of social justice as shown through her community leadership.
In 2009, Mrs. McGraw began serving as Vice President of the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Florida Inc. She organized and executed the 2nd annual MLK Education Symposium which brought together education leaders in the community to devise workable solutions to the low graduation rates among the county’s black males. In addition to the two-week commemoration of Dr. King, Mrs. McGraw launched the inaugural MLK Jr. Youth Extravaganza which showcased the amazing talents of our area youth. Mrs. McGraw gives a service-minded energy toward the African- American youth in our county’s school system and persons with disabilities.
In addition to her role as Vice President of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission of Florida, Inc. Mrs. McGraw has held numerous leadership positions, some more publicized than others, but all of great importance to the Gainesville and University of Florida communities. Mrs. Diyonne McGraw serves in the office of Vice President of the African American Accountability Alliance (4As) and the Chair of the Political Action Committee for the African American Accountability Alliance and has endeavored to compete for the Gainesville City Commission. She is a member on the School Advisory Council at Gainesville High School and PK Yonge Developmental Research School.
She has served as the President of the Mu Upsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. a social service organization whose mission is to serve all mankind. From 2009-2013, Mrs. McGraw served as the University of Florida Graduate Advisor for the Iota Lambda Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Mrs. McGraw also served as the advisor of the Precious Pearls, a stellar group of high school aged girls who provide service to this community as well as participate in scholastic endeavors such as academic tournaments and brain bowls. She serves or has served on the boards of The Twenty Pearls Foundation Inc., EAGY, Inc., The Alachua County Forever Land Conservation Board, and The Santa Fe College Blount Center Advisory Board.
Mrs. McGraw shows as much dedication to her personal life as she does her community life. She is a realtor, with the Rodney Long Realty Services, LLC and has been serving since 2007. She began her real estate career at Action Realty and then went on to Bosshardt Realty – receiving an award as multi-million dollar producer. She is a member of the Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church and its Gospel Choir. For more than 20 years she has been married to Mark McGraw and is the proud mother of three wonderful children (Brooksie 19, Mark 18, and Mya 11).
With all of her community involvement, Mrs. McGraw is the owner of Successful Living Group homes, which serves the developmental disabled population. Mrs. McGraw understands that whatever the task that it is not about her, but about the greater good and creating the best community here to live and work.