Grace, Grits and Ghosts by Susan Gabriel

Author:Susan Gabriel [Gabriel, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction
Publisher: Speedy Publishing LLC
Published: 2015-07-31T16:00:00+00:00

Country Obituary - #1

Cecil "Bluebird" Crawford died peacefully in his sleep early Sunday morning, December 7, 2014. He was 102 years old, which is not nearly old enough. Cause of death is oldness.

He was born in Jacob's Ridge and spent his entire life here except for 3 years in the Army fighting the Germans in World War II. He built houses, starting with big ones—all of which are still standing and some of you are living in—and ending with small ones, bird houses that are perched on porches and in trees all over the county, all gifts from Bluebird.

He is survived by his wife of eighty years, Margaret Annabeth Holston Crawford, ("Maggie") who he met in elementary school in the cafeteria line and they'd been friends ever since. He also leaves behind his daughters Muriel and Mary Beth and the twins: Cecil, Jr. "Junior" and Bill "Bubba" (Bubba preceded him to the Hereafter).

Grandchildren left behind are Brian, Cecil Jr., and Cynthia Winston; Kathryn Jensen Wyatt and Annabeth Mulberry. Tinker and Tucker Crawford; Elizabeth, Fran and Mitsy Crawford. (Mitsy died of cancer three years ago.) Great-grandchildren are Thomas, Chase, Jessica, Sheila, Abigail, Trevor and Roy-boy. Great-greats are Caleb and Harper (twins again) who he rocked in his lap the afternoon before he died.

Services will be held at Good River Baptist Church at 3 p.m. on Saturday, giving the family time to get here, as they are scattered all across the country.

Cards and letters of condolence can be sent to Maggie Crawford, # 7 County Rd., Jacob's Ridge, NC.

Bluebird will be remembered by everyone who knew him. For over forty years he drove the tractor pulling the Knights of Columbus float during our annual Christmas parade, and for the last twenty years he played Santa. Except for the extra padding needed, he bore a striking resemblance. He also had a beautiful tenor voice that could bring tears to your eyes, and that the Good River Baptist Church Choir will surely miss.

As one of the best bird-callers in the State of North Carolina, he could imitate not only southern birds, but also some of the ones that just passed through on their way to somewhere else. However, he will mostly be remembered for his walks along the river every day of his life—a familiar sight, rain or shine—up until the day he died.

Bluebird had a smile and a kind word for everybody and if anybody ever needed anything, he was on your porch the next day delivering it. He said the hardest thing about growing old was seeing his friends go on before him, but he never complained a minute of his life. Bluebird was a true southern gentleman, and the world is a little less gentle without him in it. Be sure and get to the church early because there's bound to be a crowd.

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