Mother Lucille Lipsey Crawford

THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY OF MOTHER LUCILLE LIPSEY CRAWFORD Mother Lucille Lipsey Crawford, 90, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, departed this earthly life suddenly and peacefully on Saturday, May 8, 2010, surrounded by her loving children and family at Borgess Medical Center. She was born to the late Dessie Mae and Rev. Thomas Lipsey, on June 16, 1919 in Houston, Mississippi. She accepted Christ under the pastorate of her father, Rev. Thomas Lipsey at Wesley Chapel CME Church, Chickasaw, MS. Lucille graduated from Chickasaw County High School in Houston, MS, and shortly after graduation, she begin teaching in Houston High School. In 1940, she was united in marriage to Tommie Lee Crawford and to this union seven children were born: Christine, Tommy Lavelle, Bobette, Derrick, Gerald Joseph, Michael Kevin and Bruce Wayne Crawford. In 1946 Mother Crawford arrived in Kalamazoo, MI from Mississippi with her husband Tommy Lee Crawford and children and performed day work in private homes for several years. During the day in those years Mother Crawford was very domesticated and trained her daughter, Bobette, to do day work along with her beginning at the age of 9. By the age of 12, Bobette could iron, wash clothes, mop floors, and clean two homes on the weekend with little supervision. In 1950 Mother Crawford enrolled in a nursing program and studied to become a Practical Nurse. In 1954 she graduated from Bronson Methodist Hospital as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She worked at Borgess Hospital for 16 years and went back to school and acquired a degree in Psychiatric Nursing and transferred to the Kalamazoo State Hospital retiring in 1980. Mother Crawford was selected by the Kalamazoo Chapter of the State Association to represent the group when members of the group met with then Governor William Milliken and legislative representatives on May 1, 1980. At that time, she had logged 26 years of nursing service into the community. When she retired from the State Hospital, Mother Crawford, immersed herself in her love for gardening, canning and freezing vegetables and quilting, and would teach anyone who wanted to learn those ‘lost arts.’ Mother Crawford’s belief was… “If I can purchase it in the grocery store, I can preserve it at home, and save that money;” and that she did”! Mother Crawford’s spiritual life involved serving as Director of the youth in the YPD, the Jr. Missionaries, singing in the Bethany Choir at Allen Chapel, and was a faithful servant leader as a Choir Mother for the Youth Choir, Stewardess Board, and was concentrated as a Deaconess in 2000 by Bishop Philip R. Cousin. She acquired a love for the Women’s Missionary Society and served in various leadership capacities on the local and area levels. In 1999, Mother Crawford received the Torch Lighters Stole, from the Michigan Conference Women’s Missionary Society; having served 25 years in the mission field and lighting the path for other women to follow. In 2002 Mother Crawford transferred her membership to Fresh Fire AME Church and was the first Charter and oldest member of the church. She supported her daughter and Pastor, The Rev. Bobette Hampton, by traveling with her to all of her preaching engagements in Kalamazoo, Detroit and Chicago, IL. Mother Crawford was fiercely independent and drove her 2001 Chevy truck, like ‘Driving Ms. Daisy’, all around town. She was a ‘survivor’ amongst all ‘survivors’, having conquered breast cancer four times and colon cancer one time; never submitting to chemotherapy or radiation after surgery. Mother Crawford’s belief was in God and holistic health. She would say, “When God is ready for me, I’ll be ready.” Though small in height, she was a ‘giant’ in her community service and love for others. Her life was full of community service and varied. It included volunteer service with Hospice, the Ecumenical Center, N.A.A.C.P., Northside Neighborhood Watch, State of Michigan Nurses Organization, and a Civil Rights Advocate. Mother Crawford was an advocate for Child Evangelism. It was not unusual to hear her say… “We’ve got to witness to our children, they are the church of today.” “If we can save our youth the world would be a better place in which to live.” She was one of the marchers against the Van Avery Drugstore for discrimination against African Americans in 1961-1962. In 2008, she was presented with The Congressman Fred Upton Award for Community Service, presented to her by The Rev. Dr. J. Louis Felton, Pastor of Galilee Baptist Church and then President of the Northside Ministerial Alliance. Mother Crawford is survived by her daughter, The Rev. Bobette (Evangelist John) Hampton, Derrick, Michael Kevin and Bruce Wayne Crawford, two sisters, Arstillure Tubbs, and Bessie Mae Jennings, four brothers, Ira Lee, Chester B. in Houlka and Ponitoc, Mississippi, Thomas and Columbus Lipsey all of Kalamazoo, MI. She is survived by 14 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great grand children; along with a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great-great nieces, great-great nephews, cousins, and friends. Mother Crawford was predeceased by her parents Dessie and Rev. Thomas Lipsey, husband, Tommie Lee Crawford, children, Christine, Gerald Joseph, and Tommy Lavelle Crawford, brothers, George Willie Lipsey, Sr. Aughtery Lipsey, step-sister, Hendrene Enoch, and sister-in-law, Dezzie Lipsey.

Mother Lucille Lipsey Crawford

June 16, 1919 - May 8, 2010