Shirley Brown Crawford, age 90, passed away Friday, February 13, 2026, at her daughter’s home in Gainesville. Funeral services were held on Saturday, February 21, at 1 p.m. at the Twin City First Baptist Church with Reverend Dennis Darville officiating. Family received friends for one hour prior to the service. Interment followed at the Coleman Cemetery in Twin City. A local service was held in Gainesville on Tuesday, February 24, at 10 a.m. at the Lanier Village Estates Chapel.
Pallbearers were David Roberts, Tyler Bulsa, Benton Meadows, Peter Meadows, Joseph Cotton and Griffin Howard.
Shirley was born January 13, 1936, in Twin City, to the late James Roscoe and Marguerite Hall Brown. She was the valedictorian at Emanuel County Institute and attended Georgia Southern University (formerly Georgia Teachers College) for two years before moving onto graduate from the University of Georgia, earning her bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Shirley was a teacher in Brunswick and Jacksonville, Florida. Following her marriage in 1962, she was a homemaker for many years. Shirley was a great cook and found joy hosting many in her home. Loving nothing more than an excellent and unique meal, she missed her calling as a food critic. Shirley loved hiking, travel adventures and spending time with family at the Georgia coast. She passed on her love of reading to family and was a lifelong student of the Bible. Shirley was a member of Dunwoody Baptist Church for 41 years, serving as a Deacon and participating in many ministries such as Precept Bible Study, Benevolence Committee and the Wellness Center. Other community involvement included PALS (Perimeter Adult Learning Center), Dunwoody Newcomers Club and ALTA (Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association). After moving to Gainesville, she became a member of Lakewood Baptist Church. Mrs. Crawford is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Benton Earl Crawford; brother, James Roscoe Brown, Jr.; sister, Dorothy Brown Morrison; son-in-law, David Walton Roberts; and sister-in-law, Joe Ann Crawford Darville.
Mrs. Crawford is survived by her children and spouses, Carol Crawford Roberts (Daniel) Bulsa, Susan Crawford (Scott) Meadows and Kenneth Brown (Heather) Crawford; grandchildren, David Walton Roberts, Jr., Benton Scott Meadows, Peter Monroe (Halea) Meadows, Adrian Lynn Meadows, Laura Meadows (Joseph) Cotton, Tyler John Bulsa, Halle Jordan Howard and Griffin Palmer Howard; as well as many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to: Lakewood Baptist Church, 2235 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville, Georgia 30501 or the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (https://lungcancerresearchfoundation.org).
Chapman Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
