James Craven Obituary

CRAVEN, James COTTAGEVILLE - Mr. James Monroe Craven, 74, entered into eternal rest Saturday evening, at Oakbrook Rehabilitation Center in Summerville after a long illness. Funeral services will be held 3 p.m., Tuesday, June 13, 2006, in The Brice W. Herndon & Sons Funeral Home, Walterboro Chapel. Interment will follow in Glendale Memorial Cemetery. Mr. Craven was born June 22, 1931, in Walterboro, SC, the son of the late James Wade Craven and Minnie Lou Herndon Craven. He served his country in the United States Navy and was stationed out of Korea and Alaska in the early 1950's. He was a former truck driver and retired Colleton County Deputy Sheriff. He was a member of Walterboro Church of God. In the early 1960's, Mr. Craven enjoyed racing cars on several local racetracks, including Summerville Raceway and the Walterboro Drag strip, winning several trophies. His love for racing continued by attending NASCAR races until his health declined; then he still couldn't miss a race on television looking for his favorite driver, Bill Elliott. He also had a love for bluegrass music, especially Bill Monroe. Surviving are: his wife, Phyllis L. Craven; two daughters, Wanda C. Bailey and husband James VonLehe of Cottageville, and Sharon L. Campbell and husband Kenny of Smoaks; one son, Steven Wade Craven and fiancée Kristie Stidham of Crystal River, Florida; one sister, Myrtie Stone of Simpsonville, SC; and one brother-in-law, Gerald Blake of Simpsonville, SC. He had seven grandchildren, James VonLehe (Jamie) Bailey II and wife Tracy Heaton Bailey of Reevesville, Jonathan W. Bailey of Cottageville, Colby Campbell and Kaitlyn Campbell of Smoaks, Corvette Craven and fiancée Bobby Crone of Crystal River, Florida, and Shawn Craven and Heather Craven of Port Richey, Florida; one great-grandchild, Jacob Benjamin Bailey of Reevesville and another great-grandchild on the way. He was predeceased by his sisters, Shirley Blake and Nancy Ann Piatt; and a granddaughter, Nicole Elizabeth Bailey. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: The American Heart Association or to Carolina Hospice Care, 410 Mill Street, Suite 401, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464. Family and friends may call Monday evening from 6 until 8 at THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOME, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro. 843-538-5408. Visit our guestbook at www.charleston.net/deaths.