UPDATED at 9:15 AM Charles Crawford Of Rehobeth Passes Away - A Man Who Was A Example To Many

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
rstokes1450@aol.com
334-790-1729
Date: Jan 25 2012 9:46 PM

REHOBETH:  Mr. Charles Crawford of Rehobeth passed away on January 23, 2012. Charles was a great guy who went through many years of pain and suffering.

In the 1970's Charles brother, Tim Crawford, shot Charles, his wife, and mother wounding them. Charles spent the rest of his life paralyzed and in a wheelchair. The brother also killed Charles daddy, sister and niece. The case was investigated by Houston County Sheriff A.B. Clark and the Sheriff Department.

But Charles Crawford did not let being paralyzed stop him in life. He worked at SAMC for several years. He was active in the Rehobeth Community and served as a council member of the Rehobeth Town Council.

Charles Crawford was always friendly when he met you and was a class A fellow. But Charles suffered through a lot of pain in the years following the shooting. I enjoyed the times when Charles and I spoke over the years.

Charles was a man, that even though a family member killed his daddy, niece and sister, and left him in a wheelchair, shot and wounded his wife and mother, you never detected any bitterness from him. He accepted the situation and dealt with the blow and situation with grace and dignity.

Tim Crawfordwas tried and convicted in Houston County Circuit Court. I do not remember the sentence.

UPDATED:  My understanding is Tim was sentenced to death in these cases. The sentence was later commuted to life without parole when Alabama's death penalty was declared unconstitutional at some point.

UPDATED @ 9:15 AM

Tim Crawford was sentenced to death in the shooting deaths of three family members and the wounding of three family members. Tim's mother, of which he shot, went to Charles and his sister Cyndi and said, while I do not condone what Tim did, he is still my son and I can not support the death penalty. She told Charles that she did not expect him to agree with her, but she just could not support her death penalty for her son. In private, Charles and Cyndi talked about it and agreed the right thing to do was to support their mother. They told the court, if Tim agreed to drop the appeals so the family did not have to relive the nightmare of that night again in court, they agreed to life without parole instead of the death penalty. So Tim's death penalty sentence was commuted to life without parole.

A part of the article I thought of this morning that was not included in my original story, over the years of watching the Crawford's from a distance, and at times closer,  Charles sister Cyndi and her daughter Breezy, were faithful to Charles and his care. They loved Charles and Charles loved them. Charles needs were met and was cared for. So while Charles is highly respected as a Class A person, his sister and niece are commended for their love and support of Charles and helping take of him in the years since this tragic nightmare.

I was 16 years old and worked with Houston County Sheriff Department when this took place. I remember the night, the scene. I was on the scene. A nightmare for a family.

OBITUARY

Ward Wilson Memory Hill Funeral Home Cemetery and Crematory

www.wardwilson.com

Charles Ray Crawford, loving brother to Cyndi and uncle to Breezy, went to Heaven on Jan. 23, 2012 to join his mother, father, beautiful sister and spirited niece, where there is no sickness and no need for wheelchairs.Charles was born on July 6, 1954. He graduated from Rehobeth High School in 1972 and went on to obtain an Associate of Science degree.  Despite severe physical hardships, Charles was able to persevere and became a Certified Computer Programmer.  He was employed for 25 yrs. at Southeast Alabama Medical Center.  He was an avid Auburn fan and loved his Auburn Tigers.Charles spent endless hours serving his community.  He assisted and supported the Rehobeth Rescue and Fire Dept., the Rehobeth Senior Citizens group for which he would often provide meals using his own money, the Rehobeth Community Cemetery, and the Rehobeth Elementary, Middle and High Schools including the ROTC.  Charles was a member of the Rehobeth Town Council for 16 yrs.Charles was preceded in death by his parents, Eddie Roy and Pauline Crawford, his sister Brenda and his niece Chrissy.  He is survived by his sister, Cyndi Crawford, who has been loyally at his side through 34 yrs. of trials and tribulations, and her fiancé Dr. William L. Bennett; also by his niece Breezy Ivey who was his light, joy and love of his life, his daughter Jeannie Crawford, niece Nina Peters, nephew Eddie Peters, his extended nieces Lauren Bennett Nichols, Lindsey Bennett, Miranda Bennett, Joanna Bennett and Whitney Haralson, as well as his extended nephews  Palmer Bennett and Blake Nichols, in addition to numerous uncles, aunts and cousins.The family wants to give special thanks to the nursing staff at SEAMC, nick named “Charlie’s Angels”, and to all the rest of the staff who took such good care of him during his numerous stays in the hospital.  Special thanks are also given to his good friends, some of whom include: Buddy Thompson, Jonathan McNeil, Joe Collins, Donnie Lee, Donna Peters and Linda Kelly.

No day shall pass without wonderful memories of this strong, courageous and, at times, bull-headed man who fought through many adversities to help so many people.

Visitation will be at the Crawford residence, 7205 Co. Rd. 203, Rehobeth, AL on Friday Jan. 27 from 3 to 5 p.m.  Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday Jan. 28 at Taylor Assembly of God with the Reverend Charles Littlefield presiding.  Interment will be at the church cemetery. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the Senior Citizens of Rehobeth, 5449 Co. Rd. 203, Rehobeth, Al 36301. Pall Bearers will be Dr. William L. Bennett, Buddy Thompson, Jonathan McNeil, Joe Collins, Donnie Lee and Jerry Kirkland.  The Honorary Pall Bearers will be “Charlie’s Angels”, Lisa Nixon, Melinda Lamb and Amy Patterson.  Funeral arrangements are provided by Ward-Wilson Funeral Home.

 

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