John J. Crawford, Sr

Mr. John Jefferson Crawford Sr., 91, formerly of Wadesboro, NC, died suddenly Thursday, June 23, 2011 at his home in Mt. Pleasant, SC. Funeral services will be 6:00PM Sunday in Leavitt Funeral Home with Rev. Rob Rollins officiating. The family will greet friends following the service. John was born in Anson County on May 7, 1920, a son of the late Clayton Arthur and Mary Lou Tucker Crawford. He graduated Wadesboro High School and attended Wofford College. While serving in the Army Air Corps during WWII, John was stationed at Rosecrans Air Field in St. Joseph, MO, where he met Virginia Lang. Following his discharge from the service, he returned to St. Joseph where he and 'Gina' were married and began their life together in Wadesboro. John joined with his father in the automobile and finance business later becoming President of Crawford Motor Co. and Crawford Finance Co. He was active in local politics serving as a county commissioner during the time that the Anson County water filitration plant was built on Blewett Falls Lake. He also served on the Wadesboro town council while the expansion of Highway 74 went from two lanes to four and also hired the first town manager. John served as a director for Anson Savings & Loan, First National Bank, Southern National Bank and BB&T. He served a number of years on the Anson Industrial Commission and was very active in the local Civitan Club. John was a wonderful Sunday school teacher and served in many areas of his beloved First United Methodist Church. Survivors include his son, John J. 'Jeff' Crawford and wife, Betty, of Wadesboro; his daughter, Leigh C. Dawson and her husband Donald of Mt. Pleasant, SC; three grandchildren, Farrah (Ryan) Balderson, Amy Crawford (Kevin) Spencer, and John Edward (Ashley) Crawford; 5 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Martha Cheves of Morganton, NC. One grand-daughter, Cherilyn Jane Crawford, preceded him in death. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 118 E. Morgan St., Wadesboro, NC 28170 or to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 6931 Arlington Road (2nd Floor) Bethesda, Maryland 20814. Leavitt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.leavittfuneralhomewadesboro.com.