President George W. Bush and Christian publishers were among those honoring the late Ruth Bell Graham. Calling her "an encouraging friend,” the president said in a statement following Graham's death that she was “a remarkable woman of faith whose life was defined by her belief in a personal, loving and gracious God."

The American Bible Society gave tribute to Graham as "an accomplished and prolific author" and whose "writings extolling the virtues of living a Christ-centered life encouraged millions and changed lives." Zondervan President and CEO Bruce Ryskamp said that Graham had "expressed her faith openly and encouraged the most downhearted among us to enjoy life even during the darkest of times."

Graham, the wife of evangelist Billy Graham and mother of speakers and authors Franklin Graham and Anne Graham Lotz, died June 14 at her home in Montreat, N.C., following a lengthy illness. She was 87. Her books included A Legacy of Love (2005, Zondervan), One Wintry Night (1995, Baker Books), Prodigals and Those Who Love Them (1999, Baker Books), Footprints of a Pilgrim (2001, Thomas Nelson) and several poetry collections.

Graham was married to the popular evangelist for more than 60 years. Together with her husband, she founded The Ruth and Billy Graham Children's Center in Asheville, N.C., in 1966. Thirty years later, the couple was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal for "outstanding and lasting contributions to morality, racial equality, family, philanthropy, and religion."

A crowd of 2,000 people gathered in Montreat, Saturday for a public memorial while a private family interment took place yesterday. Graham was buried at the foot of a cross-shaped walkway in the Prayer Gardens of the recently dedicated Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, N.C.

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