Ethel Pearl (Davis) Craig

Ethel (Davis) Craig, age 90, passed away on September 2, 2015. She was born October 3, 1924, in West Point, Mississippi. She was the fifth of eleven children born to George Washington and Pearlie Davis. As a young student, she loved school and learning. She was encouraged to attend high school, in Tupelo, Mississippi, where she lived with her aunt who was a school teacher. She was the valedictorian of her high school class. Upon her graduation from high school, she was awarded an academic scholarship to Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Alcorn State and later attended University of Alabama at Birmingham where she received her Master of Science degree. While attending Alcorn State, she met Marcus Craig who was stationed at a nearby Army post They married on December 18, 1943 upon her graduation from Alcorn State and prior to Marcus being shipped overseas during World War II. Following Marcus’ discharge from the Army, they relocated to Birmingham, Alabama, where they both pursued careers as educators. She taught for forty years in the Jefferson County (Birmingham, Alabama) Public Schools, retiring in 1987. She was an inspiring teacher and mentor to hundreds of students in schools throughout the city and county. Upon her retirement, she returned to the Fairfield (Alabama) City Schools, serving as an English teacher and tutor in the GED program. Ethel was an active member of the Fairfield (Alabama) Church of God until her move to Columbus, Ohio, in 2005, where she attended the First Church of God. At the Fairfield Church of God, she served as a Sunday school teacher, church secretary, and in many other roles. Ethel was a nurturing woman who loved teaching, adored children, and inspired her students. Her beloved husband, son Marcus Edwin Craig, II, parents, five brothers, and two sisters preceded her in her death. She is survived by her daughter, Gloria Craig (Richard) Letts; sisters, Willie Pate Branson of Saint Louis, Missouri, Amanda Harris of Houston, Texas, and Ann Drice of Los Angeles, California; grandchildren, Marcus E. Craig, III (Michele), Sherrie (Anthony) Wahl, Maureen (Eric) Joyner, and Justin C. (Noceeba) Letts; great grandchildren, Melissa Craig, Jessica Craig, Darrin Joyner, Aeva Joyner, Sydney Gordon, Nelson Gordon, and Jocelyn Letts; and many nephews, nieces, and cousins. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ethel's name to the Fairfield Church of God, 434 54th Street, Fairfield, Alabama 35064 and/or the United Negro College Fund. Attn: Denise Scott, Direct Response Programs 1805 7th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20001