Mildred Erma (Parris) Crawford, 95, of Salem, Arkansas, passed from this life on Monday, March 18, 2024, in Salem, Arkansas. Mildred was born to Kineth Iverson Parris and Stella Ellen (McCombs) Parris on August 22, 1928, in Fairfield, Alabama.
Mildred graduated Hueytown High School, Draughon’s Business College, performed Hawaiian guitars with her brother Bill on the radio, battled through polio, and moved to Washington D.C. to work at the Department of the Navy Yards and Docks as a secretary. In Washington D.C. she met Johnny Crawford and married him on October 7, 1949, at Rockville, Maryland and then they moved back to Birmingham, Alabama where she worked at Army Ordinance. Afterward she began to paint professionally as an artist and studied leather craft. She entered the nursing home in 2015 and was there until her passing. She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, friend, and was a member of the Salem First Baptist Church in Salem, Arkansas.
Mildred leaves to mourn her passing, three sons, James Ray Crawford (Debra) of College Station, Texas, Kinneth Earl Crawford (Elizabeth McCurry) of Birmingham, Alabama, and Johnny Keith Crawford (Kerri) of Chattanooga, Tennessee; seven grandchildren, Patrick Joseph Crawford (Jennifer), Kristina Crawford Allen, Jeremiah Payne, Joshua Payne, Becky Shrimsher (Luke), Jennifer Crawford, and Michael Crawford; granddaughter-in-law, Sarafina Crawford; twelve great-grandchildren, Raden, Alyssa, Alhanna, Peyton, Elijah, Julian, Haven, Levi, Luke, Landon, Cooper, and Brody; brother, William Robert Parris of Dothan, Alabama; many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband (Johnny Crawford), parents, and grandson (Jonathan Crawford).
Funeral services will be at 1:00 P.M. Monday, March 25, 2024, at Barker Funeral Home in Salem, Arkansas with Bro. John Hodges officiating. Visitation will be 12:00 until the time of service Monday, March 25, 2024, at Barker Funeral Home in Salem, Arkansas. Interment will be in the Violet Hill Cemetery in Violet Hill, Arkansas. Pallbearers will be Dennis Williams, Calvin Cotter, Joseph Roper, Robert Lash, Ken Felts, and Ken Rogers. Memorials may be made to Salem First Baptist Church in Salem, Arkansas. Arrangements are under the direction of Barker Funeral Home in Salem, Arkansas.
