Cleo Virginia Crawford

CLEO VIRGINIA CRAWFORD was born in Richmond, Virginia, March 25, 1941 to the late Richard Watford and Ruth Louise Watford. Cleo Crawford departed this life on September 24, 2024 at the Westport Rehab Center in Richmond, Virginia. She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin Crawford, 2 sons, Marvin Crawford and Melvin Crawford, Jr. Cleo loved God with all her heart; received Jesus Christ at an early age and became a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church, located on Buchanan Street in Richmond, VA. As a child, she loved to play all sorts of ball games, ride bicycle and she had a beautiful singing voice, which she used to sing gospel songs in local churches during her teenage years. Cleo enjoyed family gatherings and she worked various jobs to provide for her family. The job she loved most was being the owner of a Pet shop on Brookland Park Blvd, grooming dogs. She loved animals, even the stray ones. Cleo was educated in the Richmond, VA and Baltimore, MD Public Schools. Upon leaving Baltimore and returning to Richmond, she went to Benjamin A. Graves Junior High School and Maggie Walker High School. She was the proud mother of three sons, which she valued spending time with. Her best friend was Rosa L. Fowler, now deceased. They respected and treasured their friendship until Rosa passed away a few years ago. Cleo leaves to cherish her memory, a devoted son, Cedric Crawford and daughter-in-law, Joyce Crawford, 1 brother, Otto Watford (Gloria); 2 sisters; Gladys Adams and Diane Bentley; Grand children, Martina Crawford, Cecelia Crawford and Chelsea Crawford, Melvin Crawford 3rd, Anthony Goode; Mekel Crawford; Nieces, Zorana Richardson (Bruce); Lezena Flippin (Ollie); Shanna Watford, and nephew, O C Watford; uncle, Jeremiah Thornton (Baltimore); Ben Watford, North Carolina; and special cousins; Cynthia Bullock, Baltimore, Tyrone Benjamin, Michael Pollard, Sean Richardson, Debbie Thornton, NC; Curtis Thornton and, Ray Thornton. She leaves a host of other great grandchildren, relatives and friends to cherish her memory. Cleo lost her voice for speaking some years ago, but she would always say “in the morning”. We interpreted her only spoken words to Psalm 30:5 which we read in the Bible, “Weeping may endure for a night, but Joy comes in the morning.”

Tributes

Cleo Virginia Crawford

March 25, 1941 - September 24, 2024