Donald Bruce Crawford

Donald Bruce Crawford born September 29, 1939 passed away on January 27, 2017.

Donald was born in the Shiloh community to his parents the Rev. R. L. And Maude Crawford and was the 4th of 7 children. He married Judith Huntley in 1958, the youngest daughter of W. S. & Lala Huntley. Donald worked at Stonecutter Mills before accepting a position with The Tanner-Doncaster Co. Over the years he improved his position until achieving the position of contract manager. He was also proud of his service of 13 years in the North Carolina National Guard. In 1974 he moved his family to Ocala, Florida where he held the same position with the Lady Bayard Shirt Company. He immediately became involved with his new community and church the Wyomina Park Baptist Church. He was a church leader, a Sunday school teacher, a deacon and a lay speaker as he had been at the Shiloh Baptist Church before moving. Crawford stayed in Florida for 10 years before moving his family back to North Carolina where he had accepted the position of president of manufacturing for the Tanner Companies. He made his home on a farm in the Gilkey Community where he also raised Charolais cattle and hay along with his son.

In 1993 he resigned his position with Tanner and opened his own factory in Spindale, N. C. Called Oh, Suzannah Apparel Mfg. it was a contract cutting and sewing facility that is still in operation and has over the years employed from 15 to 75 people at any given time. Don saw his company as an extension of his ministry to the community and an opportunity to provide jobs in an area that had been decimated by the decline of the textile industry in this part of the state. He attended the Mt. Vernon Baptist Church where he was also a deacon and taught Sunday School. He was a member there until 2007 when after being ordained as a minister of the gospel he took on the role of full time Pastor of the Shiloh Baptist Church. He kept this position until because of health reasons he retired in December of 2015. Though he did not work full time at any place he continued to execute a heavy influence on his company and in the communities where he lived and had served. His hobbies mainly focused on biblical studies and the growing of vegetable gardens and flowers which he always found delight in.

He is survived by his wife, Judy, a son Jeff, two sisters Jolene Guffey of Shiloh and Mildred Bowlin of Sparks, Nevada and a brother Jim Crawford of China Grove, N.C. His daughter passed away in 2007 leaving behind 3 children-Abigail White wife of Josh White and mother of daughter Sophia and son Benjamin, Chandler Jones, and son Hunter. Charles Dickens wrote a line once "mankind was my business ", Donald B. Crawford personified this.

The funeral service was held in the sanctuary of the Shiloh Baptist Church with Reverend Paul D. Willis and Reverend Greg Hathaway officiating. Interment held in the church cemetery.

The Padgett and King Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.