James W. Craig

James W. Craig, 89, passed away on November 11, 2013, at his residence, surrounded by his loving family. 

Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, November 13, 2013, at 2:00 PM in Tazewell Cemetery with Rev. David Chapman and Rev. Dean Long officiating.  The family will receive friends at Watson-Tante Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 12, 2013, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM.   

Mr. Craig was born September 21, 1924, to the late Virgil Craig and Cleo Halcomb Craig in Tiger, Georgia.  He was a U.S. Army veteran, being the first 18 year old to be drafted from Rabun County and having served in WWII in Italy and North Africa and also the Korean Conflict.  He was retired from Ft. Benning after 25 years of civil service. Mr. Craig was a member of Tazewell Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and a Sunday school teacher.   He was also a 3rd Degree Mason for over 50 years, having served as Past Master of the Marion Lodge #14. Mr. Craig loved to hunt and fish, but most of all he enjoyed spending time with all of his family. 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, L.E. Craig, Jess Craig and Wilfred Craig; four sisters, Myrtle Caudell, Evelyn Alley, Ivalee Chilton and Gladys Craig; and a son-in-law, Tommy Whaley.

Mr. Craig is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Betty Jean Icard Craig of Tazewell; six children, Uvalyne and Ray Smith of Macon, GA, Pam and Larry Sims of Tazewell, Rosalind Whaley of Ellaville, Charlene and Lynn Turner of Ideal, Carol and Vance Streeter of Tazewell and Wayne and Cheryl Ray of Tazewell; nine grandchildren, Angie and Daryl Cohen, Barbara and Matt Gilbert, Fawn and Herb MacMillan, Terry and Shelby Whaley, Stacie and Todd Taylor, Joey and Mary Margret Turner, Carrie and Robbie Jordan, Craig Davis and Devin Ray; sixteen great-grandchildren; three brothers, George Craig of Clarksville, TN, Lloyd Craig of Clayton, GA and Jack Craig of Otto, NC; three sisters Ruth Parker of Loganville, GA, Nora Bingham of Clayton, GA and Leo Smiley of Bryson City, NC.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Tazewell Cemetery Fund in care of Pamela Sims, 3655 Dr. Deryl Hart Road, Buena Vista, GA, 31803, or the Marion Lodge #14 in care of Ronnie Hall, 823 Ronnie Road, Buena Vista, GA, 31803.

Watson-Tante Funeral Home of Buena Vista, Georgia, is in charge of these arrangements.