Jeffrey Burke Cranford's Obituary
Jeffrey Burke Cranford, 83, a retired businessman of Memphis, died Monday, July 5, 2010 at Baptist Memorial Hospital Memphis. He was a 1944 graduate of the Christian Brothers High School for Boys. He also attended the University of Alabama where he was in the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He was an avid aviation enthusiast, having attained his pilot’s license in 1947 and was multi-engined and instrument rated. For many years he was the chairman of the old March of Dimes Airlift, when it was attempting to introduce Civil Aviation to the general public. He was a Major in the Mid-South Wing of the Civil Air Patrol as a Command Pilot and Mission Commander. He served briefly during the Korean War with the 8th Infantry Division. In 1964 he was a member of the first class of the Reserve Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy’s when it was organized by Sheriff Bill Morris. Married to Naomi Hayslip Cranford, he was widowed in 1975. He was a Communicant of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Surviving Mr. Cranford is his companion of many years, Vallie Jo Witmer Bell, his half-brother, Edward Daniel Newton, William M. & Elizabeth M. Bell, III; Lelia Bell, Courtney Bell Frankowski and Wallace Bell; Margaret Graber, Daniel Newton, Lake Newton, and 5 grand nieces and a grand nephew. Funeral Services will be Thursday, July 8, 2010 at 1:00 at Memorial Park Funeral Home with a reception following at the Memorial Park. A book will be available for signing Wednesday between 5-7 p.m. It is requested that any flowers or memorials be directed to The Christian Brothers High School in memory of Mr. Cranford.
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