Marie Martin Crawford

Published 10:12 am Thursday, April 17, 2025

Funeral services for Marie Martin Crawford, 90, of Cordele will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, April 18, 2025, in the chapel of Rainey Family Funeral Services with burial following in Sunnyside Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday, April 17, 2025, from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Marie, lovingly known as Granny Rea, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at her residence. She was born in Cordele to the late Joe Abb Martin and Annie Catherine Poole Martin. She was also preceded in death by her husband, H.W. Crawford; two sons-in-law, Raymond Gibbs and Bill Biggers; brothers, Herbert Martin and T.W. Martin; sisters, Maggie Bell Ingram and Dorothy Martin; and a grandchild, Brent Brown. In her younger years, she enjoyed outdoor activities and loved to play softball and basketball. Granny Rea was a homemaker and an active member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. She loved her church and her church family. On Sunday’s after church, her house was always filled with family, friends, and lots of love. With an open heart and open door, anyone who visited knew there would be great fun and a wonderful meal that included everyone’s favorites corn, cornbread, and sweet iced tea. It was always everyone’s favorite place to be, especially the grandchildren. She enjoyed watching the birds and especially loved Cardinals, which always reminded her of loved ones gone on before. Granny Rea was known for lots of things, but two special things were her Wind Song cologne and the sweet “I Love You” that she always whispered in your ear as she hugged your neck. Marie is survived by three children, Keith Brown (Shirley) of Lizella, Cathy Gibbs, and Linda Biggers, both of Cordele; a brother, William Martin of Cordele; a sister, Ruth M. Morrison of Tennessee; seven grandchildren, Robbie Biggers, Susie Biggers, Tiffany Burke, Mandy (Shane) Layfield, Jason (Tasha) Gibbs, Misty (Chris) Dickerson and Amber (Matt) Alford;  16 great-grandchildren, Jesse (Branden) Harmon, Seth Biggers, Jordan Dickerson, Rusty Henderson, Wynne Biggers, Sidney Biggers, Laney Burke, Addie Alford, Tori Dickerson,  Lila Burke, Thomas Layfield, Caleb Gibbs, Lily Burke, Baylee Gibbs, Aubrey Alford, and Emma Dickerson; and two great-great-granddaughters, Anna Harmon and Ada Harmon. Arrangements are by Rainey Family Funeral Services. An online guest register is available at www.raineyfuneral.com