Carolyn M. Craft

Carolyn Martin Craft died Monday August 16, 2010, one day after celebrating her 95th birthday with her family.

She was born on August 15, 1915 in Shellman, GA where she developed considerable talent as a pianist and excelled in her academics. Her senior year, she won the Georgia State Latin Contest and graduated as valedictorian from Shellman High School. She graduated in 1936 from Wesleyan College and Conservatory in Macon, GA. with English and Music majors and a Bachelor of Arts' degree.

Carolyn soon thereafter took a train to New York and a ship to France to marry James (Jim) P. Craft, Jr., whom she had known as a young child and had dated while she was at Wesleyan and he was at the U.S. Naval Academy. Carolyn and Jim were married in France in July 30, 1937 during one of Jim's port calls in La Rochelle. Carolyn remained in Europe through the remainder of Jim's deployment while he served on a U.S. Navy ship protecting U.S. intrests during the Spanish Civil War.
Due to war and ship deployments when Jim was away, Carolyn shouldered much of the burden for raising their 3 children and for managing the numerous relocations on both coasts, attendant with her husband's naval career. She was active in the Navy Wives Club- assisting other Navy wives in dealing with family issues associated with Navy life. After Jim's retirement from the Navy, Carolyn assisted Jim in his pursuit of careers in academia and financial planning.

In 2001, at the ages of 85 and 87, Carolyn and jim returned to their Georgia roots, moving to Lanier Village Estates. The became members of Gainesville First United Methodist Church and enjoyed the many friends and community activities at Lanier Village Estates.

Carolyn is survived by her children- The Rev. Dr. Carolyn M. Craft of Farmville, VA; her two sons, James P. Craft of Atenas, Costa Rica and Frederick G. Craft of Salt Lake City, UT; her two sisters and their husbands, Elizabeth and Henry Jennings of Gainesville, GA (LVE), Martha and Raymond Ginn of Smyrna, GA and her sister-in-law, Mary Laura Martin of Americus, GA.

A memorial service in celebration of Carolyn's life will be held in the Lanier Village Estates auditorium on Saturday August 21, 2010 at 2:00 p.m., with interment beside her husband on the Eastview Cemetery in Shellman, GA on Sunday August 22, 2010 at 2:00 p.m.

The family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lanier Village Estates Spiritual Life Committee, 4000 Village View Drive, Gainesville, GA 30506-4331.

Those wishing to send online condolences may do so at littledavenport.com

Little & Davenport Funeral Home, 355 Dawsonville Highway, S.W., Gainesville, Ga. 30501