Judith Huntley Crawford of Gilkey

Judith Huntley Crawford of Gilkey, was born August 15th, 1940 and passed away January 11, 2020.

She was the wife of Reverend Donald B. Crawford and youngest daughter of Stanford and Lala Huntley. She had two children-Jeffrey B Crawford and Paige Crawford Bradley (Douglas), as well as three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband and daughter.

Judy was born into and raised in a large and loving close knit family with seven siblings. Frances Cole (Heber), Muriel Hash (Sam), Madge Layton (Walter), Joseph Huntley (Fran), Joyce Guffey (Cecil), Jean Owens (George), Betty Ruppe (Robert) and married into just as fine a family belonging to Reverend and Mrs. R.L.Crawford that was comprised of Irene Gordon (Edgar), Mildred Bowlin (Raymond), Ray Crawford (Starlyn), James Crawford (Bunny), Larry Crawford (Glenda), Jolene Guffey (Hal). Two children, Inez & Helen, never reached adulthood. A vast group of nieces and nephews that she cherished and adored created many branches of an already immense family tree. Never forgetting who was born on what date and the dates they were married. That extended to great nieces and great nephews as well.

Judy grew up in Rutherford county and after graduating from Harris High School she married in 1957, then worked as a homemaker as well as in varying positions including Sears, The American Dairy Goat Association, and as secretary for Shiloh Baptist Church where her husband was a deacon. Judy prized few things more than her involvement in the church, especially her participation in the choir.

In 1974 Judy's husband's vocation took them to Florida where she and the family would spend the next ten years. Their involvement in church was almost immediate and afforded Judy the opportunity to make strong, time enduring friendships that last even until this day. She also found that she had a talent for wedding planning and direction during this period. This was a labor that suited her desire to help and care, a passion that would serve her greatly later in life.

In 1984 the family moved back to Rutherford County where Judy would eventually fill the position of executive director for the American Red Cross, a position she would hold for 25 years. Her talent to and desire for helping people made this job the perfect fit for her. Judy excelled in her work and along with being involved with teaching Sunday School and being a choir member at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church enjoyed maintaining a busy life. Nothing pleased Judy more than being able to be of assistance in some large or small way to anyone who crossed her path. Judy never met a stranger, everyone was a friend she just hadn't met yet. Spending every possible moment with her grandchildren was a goal she always found a way to achieve though, and the bond formed by their time together made them more than family. Judy and her grandchildren were best friends. She shared her talent for painting and cooking with them, as well as adventurous day trips that they would take often. She would eventually create that same strong bond with her great grandchildren.

In 2005 Judy's husband was ordained as a minister and soon took the position of full time pastor at the Shiloh Baptist Church where they had attended for so long years before. They stayed very active in that church until his retirement in 2015, a year before his passing. Judy, throughout her life was a wife, a mother, a grand and great grandmother, a sister, a sister-in-law, an aunt (sometimes the favorite one), a friend, a teacher, a cheering squad, a mentor, a shoulder to cry on, and a solid structure to lean against for any and everyone who needed it, and this was what she relished. Judy Crawford touched everyone she ever met in some positive way.

Judy and Don both adored flowers, but in lieu of sending flowers the family requests that donations be made instead to either Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, PO Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043 or The American Red Cross.

A memorial service was held at Shiloh Baptist Church. Interment followed in the church cemetery.

The Padgett & King Mortuary is serving the family.