COLUMBIA — Services for Emily Cranford, 88, of Columbia, who died Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, at Marion General Hospital, will be 11 a.m. today at Hathorn Funeral Home in Columbia with the Rev. Whest Shirley and the Rev. Kenny Peavey officiating.
Burial will follow at Cook Family Cemetery under the direction of Hathorn Funeral Home.
Mrs. Cranford was a faithful member of Edna Baptist Church. She loved flower gardening, quilting and reading. She taught elementary school students for 40 years.
Emily loved people and had a sincere concern for everyone — a small lady with a big heart. She was a precious Nana to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Cranford was preceded in death by her parents, Warren Henry and Annie Alice White Cook; two brothers, Charles “Bud” Cook and William “Bill” Cook; and one sister-in-law, Elsie Fortenberry.
Survivors include her husband of 66 years, Kenneth Cranford; two sons, Lowell Cranford of Ackerman and Keith Cranford and wife, Laura Meritt, of Austin, Texas; one daughter, Cheryl Probst and husband, Tommy, of Vidalia; two sisters, Julia Nell “Cookie” Porter and husband, Glyn, and Sybil White, all of Columbia; one brother-in-law, Roland Cranford of Edwards; 11 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Tom Porter, Adam Probst, Joseph Purvis, Doug Trice, Mike Childress and Javan Porter.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Online condolences may be sent to hathornfuneralhome.com.