Darline Graham: Lindsey Graham’s sister and interim US senator

Darline was 13 when her brother became her legal guardian - and was a key presence as he rose in the Republican ranks

When Lindsey Graham was in college, his parents died, just over a year apart. But he worried most about his sister, who, at 13, was suddenly an orphan. Graham became her legal guardian - and later adopted her so she could receive his benefits through his service as an air force lawyer.

On Tuesday, following Graham's sudden death, that sister, Darline Graham, was sworn in to serve the remainder of her late brother's Senate term. Lindsey took care of his little sister in years long departed," said Henry McMaster, South Carolina's Republican governor, at a press conference on Monday convened at the state capital in Columbia. It's my honor to ask his little sister, Darline Graham, to finish his work for him now."