Mabel McNealey Brown Crawford

(May 5, 1933 - September 27, 2024)

Mabel McNealey Brown Crawford, age 91, departed this life Friday, September 27, 2024.

Mabel was born on May 5th, 1933, and was the fourth child to the late Montgomery & Ardary Craddock McNealey in Headland, Alabama.

Mabel attended and graduated from the high school in Headland, Alabama. She accepted Christ at an early age at Union Hill Freewill Baptist Church. Later she relocated with her sister, Beatrice and her husband, James Lewis, to Valdosta, GA. Mabel got a job at a store that Jim Brown serviced as a Grits Mill owner. Mabel and James later married and to this union 5 children were born. Jim later passed in 1979. During the 90's, Mabel married Don L. Crawford and remained married until his death in 2001. Mabel attended River Hill Baptist Church until her marriage to Don L. Crawford. She later moved her membership to Southside Church of Christ.

Mabel was a faithful and committed wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, stepmother, cousin and friend. She worked as a homemaker until the 1970's. She worked at Coastal Plains as an afterhours care provider, bus driver for the nutrition center and later became the Director of their Transportation Department. Upon retirement, she resumed her duties as a homemaker and caretaker for her grandchildren. Mabel was one of those hidden jewels that you missed if you did not know her. Mabel was well known for her quiet easy-going ways. Somehow, she always found a way to do things decent and in order.

In addition to her parents, Mabel is preceded in death by her spouses: James Isom Brown "Jim/Tut" and Don L. Crawford; siblings: Annie P. Avery, Beatrice Lewis, Mary Crews, Earl McNealey, Robert McNealey, Montgomery McNealey, Jr.; stepchildren: Addie Williams, Cleo, John and Carroll Brown; Oretha Peterman, Wilber, Mildred, Earl and Carroll Crawford; step grandchild: James Williams.

Mabel leaves to cherish her memory, her 5 children: Leslie Regina Evans, Sharon Sims (Johnny), and Sonia Spencer (Ed), all of Valdosta, GA, Anthony Brown Sims (Allison), Jacksonville, AK, and James Brown (Hattie), Fayetteville, NC; stepchildren: Wilma Conner, Don Lewis Crawford and Jackie Crawford; siblings: Alice Twiggs, Ernest Charles McNealey: 18 grandchildren: Cardale Evans, Sr. (Felicita), Kenya Nicole Evans, Fallon Brown, Dwain Woods (Kashaun), Wallace J. Spencer, Sarah Sims, Jonathan Sims (Lexx), Meshell Tony, Audry Brown, Johnny Mack Sims, Anthony Brown, Jr., Pam Williams McKire (David), Kenya White, Kelvin White (Mae Eva) Kammie Outlaw (Montrel), Jackie Spencer, Eddie Ruth Spencer; and a host of cousins, extended family and friends.

The Celebration of Life for the late Mabel McNealey Brown Crawford will be Saturday, October 12, 2024, 2:00 p.m., at Southside Church of Christ, 1198 Old Statenville Rd., Valdosta, GA.

Bro. Eric Dawkins will be officiating.

Interment will follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery, Valdosta, GA.

Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online registry at www.godfreyfuneralhome.net.

Professional services provided by Godfrey Funeral Home, LLC.

Due to COVID-19, Godfrey Funeral Home will be enforcing social distancing and following the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines.