Obituaries

Sara Elizabeth Sparks Crawford was born April 25th, 1943 in Atlanta, GA. She was the oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs Clarence Ivy and Irene Elizabeth Howard Sparks.

Her parents two years later decided to participate in the Great Migration of African-Americans to the North, and moved to Akron, Ohio.

Sara blossomed there. She attended Crouse Elementary and Buchtel High School. She later returned to Atlanta and completed high school at Booker T Washington. She also furthered her education at Clark College.

Mrs. Crawford was the wife of the late Henry Louis Crawford. An intregal part of the East Point Community, she was very active with Oak Knoll PTA and served several years as president. Her home was a loving place as she cared for dozens of children for nearly two decades. Most of the children referred to her as “Auntie”.

She was a long standing member of West Hunter Street Baptist Church, where she served on the Mother's Board, the Juanita J. Abernathy Missionary Circle, the Gospel and Sanctuary Choirs, and the Vacation Bible School Committee.

Mrs. Crawford is survived by her parents; her four children, Mr. and Mrs. Dexter and Leronetta “Lea” Wise, Mr. Derrick Wilder, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth and Deborah Hardnett, Ms. Donnique Crawford; one brother Mr. and Mrs. Authur and Doris Reid; mother-in-law, Fannie Crawford; five aunts, Beatrice Rome, Eula Youngblood, Tempy C. Walker, Bessie Smith, Annie Bell Dunn; a host of other relatives and friends.