Jimmie Ray Crawford

Jimmie Ray Crawford, 65, of Morganton, NC died Sunday, July 8, 2012. Born August 3, 1946 in Buncombe County, NC, he was a son of Myrtle Fulbright Crawford of Waynesville, NC and the late Horace Crawford. Jimmie received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, and went on to earn two Masters Degrees from Western Carolina University and Gallaudet University. He taught at NCSD for 30 years, and retired in 1999. He was listed in Who’s Who In America in 1989. Jimmie was past President of the Lions Club, the Frat Club, and North Carolina Association for the Deaf. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon, and a Sunday school teacher for the Deaf community.In addition to his mother, Jimmie is survived by his wife, Patricia Ann Pitts Crawford of the home; a niece, Ronda Imand and her husband, John of South Carolina; and a nephew, Darwin Crawford and his wife, Jamie of Waynesville.Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 11, 2012 in the Colonial Chapel of Sosoman Funeral Home. The family will receive friends one hour before the service at the funeral home. Burial will be at 3:30 p.m., Wednesday at the Garrett-Hillcrest Cemetery in Waynesville. Memorial contributions may be made to Palliative Care Center and Hospice of Catawba Valley, 3975 Robinson Rd., Newton, NC 28658, or to the American Cancer Society, 4-A Oak Branch Dr., Greensboro, NC 27407.