Rev. Raymond Clarence Craven

Rev. Raymond Clarence Craven, 86, of 587 Old Thomasville Road, died unexpectedly early Sunday morning, March 21, 2010, at Forsyth Medical Center following a 10 month battle with Mylodysplastic Syndrome and leukemia. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Mt. Hope United Church of Christ, 2400 Mt. Hope Church Road, Whitsett, N.C., with the Revs. Loyd Spencer, David Carter and Dr. Emmett Floyd, Interim Conference Minister, officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 23, 2010, at Davidson Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel, and all other times at the home. He was born in Davidson County, June 2, 1923, the youngest son of Fred Cleon and Mary Elizabeth Smith Craven. In 1939 he graduated as salutatorian from Midway High School He served in I Corp, in the U.S. Army and was discharged as a Staff Sgt., then coming back to Davidson County to farm. Following his call to the ministry he entered Catawba College and graduated with an A.B. Degree in 1952. The following September he entered Lancaster Theological Seminary where he graduated as class president in 1955. He later received a Master Degree from Lancaster. After his ordination, he accepted a call to become the first fulltime pastor at Hedrick’s Grove United Church of Christ in Lexington. During his time there a new educational building and a new parsonage were built and dedicated debt free. While serving there twelve and a half years he supplied Beulah, Paul’s Chapel, Mt. Tabor, Becks, and Emanuel while they searched for a fulltime pastor. In 1967, he accepted a call to Mt. Hope UCC in Guilford County and served there over 18 years. During this time the present sanctuary was built. Upon his retirement in 1985, he and his wife, moved into a home they had built on land from the farm where he grew up. Following his retirement he served as interim pastor at Beulah UCC and New Jerusalem UCC in Lexington; Community UCC in Pfafftown, Salem Chapel and Belews Creek in Walkertown, and Hebron UCC in Winston-Salem, where he was a member. In 1953 he married Betty Joan Dellinger of Conover. On July 26th of this year they would have been married 57 years. Rev. Craven was active in the Southern Conference of the UCC, the Western Association of the UCC, and the local ministerial. He had served on the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity Thomasville area. He loved to fly, ride motorcycles, and play golf till health problems arose. Rev. Craven was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws, John and Mary Lou Dellinger of Conover; his oldest brother, Charles H. Craven of Advance; a sister and brother-in-law, Helen C. and Merlin K. McConnell of Cornelius; a brother-in-law, Leroy W. Bailey of Winston-Salem; a brother-in-law, Dr. Calvin Tyner of Mooresville; and a daughter-in-law, Dianne Gregory Craven of Whitsett. Surviving are his wife, a daughter, Rae Catherine O’Connell and her husband, Danny; a son, Timothy John Craven and his wife, Patty. He is also survived by his brother, Smith Craven and his wife, Evelyn; two sisters, Jean C. Bailey and Marge C. Tyner, all of Winston-Salem; and a sister-in-law, Beryl A. Craven of Advance; and nieces, nephews, and step-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the Southern Conference of the UCC General Fund, 252 W. Fifth Street, Burlington, NC 27215; Hebron UCC, 129 Hebron Church Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27107; Mt. Hope UCC, 2400 Mt. Hope Church Road, Whitsett, NC 27377; or a charity of the donor’s choice. The family is deeply grateful for the special care given Rev. Craven by Dr. Timothy Collins, Courtney Simmons, and the ninth floor staff at Forsyth Medical Center.