A Life Story

Herman C. Crawford, Jr., 88, of Savannah, Ga., passed away peacefully on Monday, February 3, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.Mr. Crawford, a native of Savannah, was born on October 11, 1936, the son of the late Herman C. Crawford, Sr. and Josephine Altman Crawford. He attended Cathedral Day School and Commercial High School, after which he married the love of his life, Roberta Summerville. He worked as a butcher for 18 years with A&P Grocery Store, followed by several years with DePue-Wilbert Vault Company. He then began a successful career as a carpenter with Jerry Brannen Construction Company. His skill was recognized all over Savannah, and one of the homes he built was featured on the cover of Southern Living Magazine. He was frequently requested by customers to build or remodel their homes because of his talent and work ethic. He retired after 25+ years of faithful service.While attending Riverside Baptist Church he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and worshipped there with his young family for many years. He later became a longtime parishioner of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.Herman enjoyed fishing and was once featured on WTOC for catching a record size flounder off his daughter's dock. He also liked watching Atlanta Braves baseball and Oakland Raiders football, even though he joked that the games were rigged with the winners determined before the games ever began. His sense of humor aided him to be known as a jokester and prankster. He liked to pick on those he liked and loved, which was quite often. He also loved to give those around him nicknames, which sometimes got him into trouble! He loved tinkering around in his workshop, and gave new meaning to the phrase "handy man" as he could fix just about anything. He also enjoyed being the Crawford clan auto mechanic, but above all, he loved spending time with his family.Mr. Crawford was preceded in death by his loving wife of 64 years, Jessie Roberta "Berta" Crawford; son-in-law, Lewie "Alvin" Hinely; granddaughter, Lisa Renee Crawford; and siblings, Charlie Becton, William "Billy" Crawford, Cullen Battle "CB" Crawford, Herbert Crawford, and Harry Crawford.He is survived by his children, Diane Crawford Hinely, Herman C. "Rusty" Crawford, III (Jeannie), Robert Randall Crawford, and Karen Crawford Osterman (Ed); grandchildren, Laura Lyon (Will), Lindsey Campbell (Tyler), Elizabeth Childress (Brad), Thomas Hinely, Zachary, Matthew, and Cayden Osterman, and Brayley Osterman Newton (Erik); and great-grandchildren, Jadon and Levi Lyon, Sierra and Cheyenne Campbell, and Bradley and Bella Childress.A funeral to honor Mr. Crawford's life will be held at 1:00pm, Saturday, February 8, 2025, at Baker McCullough Funeral Home, Hodgson Memorial Chapel, Savannah, Ga. The family will receive family and friends from 12:00 noon until the time of the service. Burial will follow the funeral service at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens.In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or Shriners.