OBITUARY FOR DOUGLAS CLIFFORD “DOUG” CRAWFORD
Douglas (Doug) Clifford Crawford, 71, of Carrollton, Georgia passed away peacefully on Sunday evening, August 13, 2017 at his residence surrounded by family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Johnnie Withrow Flowers, step-father, Sumpter Flowers, step-brother, Red Flowers, canine daughter Missy Mae Crawford, and many equine family members.
He is survived by his loving, devoted wife of 36 years, Sheryl Smith Crawford, and his two sons, Michael Crawford (Trisha) and their children, Lance and Madison, of Villa Rica, Georgia, and Timothy Crawford (Alison) of South Lake, Texas.
He is survived by his sisters, Frances Rigdon of Jesup, Georgia and Margaret Gignilliat of Odum, Georgia, step-brothers John A. Flowers (Mary) of Odum and Ricky Flowers of Jesup, Georgia, mother-in-law, Ruth Wingo McLain (Lester) of Carrollton, father-in-law, Ronald Riggs Smith (Elaine) of Carrollton, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Special friends and long-time coworkers include Bill Hutson, Chad Hardy, Joan Lee, John Bass, Charlie Frost, Greg Wiggins, and Tim Tomlinson and his “guardian angel” and dear friend, Kimberly Shadrix, and consoler and sister-in-law, Dr. Ronee Smith Griffith.
He is also survived by his canine daughter, Katie Ann Crawford, and his 15 equine family members.
He was born and raised in Odum, Wayne County, Georgia. He distinguished himself as an outstanding student, debater, and athlete at Odum High School.
He served his country in the US Army from 1967-1969. He graduated from Southern Tech in Marietta, Georgia which was, at that time, affiliated with Georgia Technical Institute. He funded his education by working with the Georgia Department of Transportation and City of Marietta while taking classes.
After graduation he worked with a civil engineering firm in the Atlanta area before moving to Carroll County in 1973 to start his own business. He founded Crawford & Associates, Inc., now Georgia And West, Inc., currently owned and operated by Michael Crawford and John Bass. Doug and his late friend and partner, Lawrence (Larry) Williams, grew the company from scratch. Doug was very proud to see his legacy of hard work and dedication continues under the direction of his son, Mike, and John Bass.
Much of the city of Carrollton and Carroll County landscape is dotted with land designs and developments that he directed. He worked with an array of developers, contractors, and national firms on Office and Industrial, Retail, Multi-family and single-family developments. His skills are reflected in school systems, municipalities, shopping centers, travel centers, industrial parks and commercial establishments in many counties throughout Georgia. He loved his community and was so proud of the many improvements in Carrollton and Carroll County since he moved here. He especially enjoyed dining at the downtown restaurants and pubs nestled in and around the new “old” Carrollton square.
Doug was an avid breeder, show horse owner, and equine welfare advocate. He loved the Tennessee Walking Horses and he and his wife claimed 24 World Championship titles, 8 World Grand Championship titles, 18 Reserve World Championship titles, and 2 Reserve World Grand Championship titles. He was a life time member of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors Association.
He was also a lifetime member of the Vasculitis Foundation that supports education, awareness, and research for diseases such Wegener’s Granulomatosis (now referred to Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis). Doug bravely battled this disease for 15 years and thanks to his strong will, love of life, resilience, and excellent medical care, he exceeded his life expectancy by fourteen years.
He was a member of Odum Baptist Church and Bethany Christian Church. He loved horse shows, history, traveling, playing cards and checkers, tutoring students with advanced math courses, mowing, bush-hogging, and hanging out at grocery check outs to pay a tab for a person in need. . He loved his Carrollton home and was always orchestrating home improvements. He also loved Saddlecrest Farms, his Tennessee home where he was able to personally do the land design for the 140 acres prior to any existing buildings.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Carrollton Train Depot on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 at 6 pm.
There will also be a Celebration of Life held in Shelbyville, TN at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in his memory be made to:
Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders Foundation
250 North Ellington Parkway
Lewisburg, TN 37091
Vasculitis Foundation
PO Box 28660
Kansas City, MO 64188
