Hardy Crawford

Freeport lost one of its oldest citizens, Sunday, in the death of Mr. Hardy Crawford, which occurred at 12:30 here at his home, after a lingering illness.

Mr. Crawford, who was a Mason and a member of the Baptist church, having been ordained as a [deacon] some three months after uniting with the church, years ago, and was very faithful to his church when able to attend.

Funeral services which were held at the Baptist church on Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock, were in charge of his pastor, Rev. P. M. Woodall, assisted by Rev. A. M. Moore of DeFuniak. The choir sang his favorite hymn, “When the Roll is Called” and “Does Jesus Care,” and as a special request from the family, the song, “The Lifeboat” was sung by the Intermediate and Junior B.Y.P.U’s., which had often gone to his home during his illness and sung for him.

Because of inclement weather, the Masons postponed their ceremony, the date to be announced later. The Masons acting as pall bearers were, Mr. Bill Davis, C. A. Mitchell, L. W. Melvin, Sanders Douglass and Henry Brown.

Interment was made in the Hatcher cemetery. He leaves seven sons: Ben, of Mobile; Bruce, of Fort Meade; Dr. C. D., of Port Arthur, Texas; Howard, of Birmingham; Wallace, of Detroit, Mich.; Hal and Hayes, of Freeport, had one daughter, Miss Sallie Mae, of [DeFuniak] Springs.–Con.

[Source: The Breeze, January 9, 1936]

[Burial: Hatcher Cemetery, Freeport]