Edna Whitson Crawford

Edna Whitson Crawford transitioned to her Home with Jesus on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at her home with her loving family surrounding her.

She was the nearest thing to the unconditional love of God in human form that her children knew. Because of the life she lived, her family had an easy time believing in an accurate picture of who God is. The 9th of 11 children, she was born in her parent’s beautiful farmhouse in Buladean, North Carolina. She trusted Jesus as her Savior and baptized as a young girl at Beans Creek Baptist Church in Buladean. In her early years, she was a softball pitcher, Miss Kingsport pageant contestant, as well as “the green-eyed secretary with lots of pep” per Kingsport Times News. At that time, she met her handsome Marine husband, Claude Crawford, on a blind date set up by her future brother-in-law Ed Crawford, and they were married for 59 years before he passed away in 2018.

She was a beautiful creative and classy lady, and talented seamstress, artist, cook, and gardener.  Always our “jack in the box,” she was always a hard worker serving her family and others so freely. For years, she served as a preschool Sunday School teacher, frequent volunteer in her children’s activities at school, as well as the accountant for her husband’s evangelistic group called The Eternals for 10 years. In her later years, she served as a loving caregiver along with her two sisters for both of their parents, as well as her husband. Always the prankster, she loved playing games and spending time with her family. She also loved each of the ladies in her life group at Tri-Cities Baptist Church led by special friend Lisa Ferguson.

Special thanks for those who showed her special care during her health challenges: Her children, her grandson PA Micah McFaddin, PCP Dr. Samuel Plucker, Dr. Rogers and all the staff at Performance Medicine in Kingsport, friend, Kayla Maye, and SunCrest Home Health – especially PT Amy Jaworski and special love to OT/niece Krista Orr.  

Those family members who preceded her to Heaven were husband Claude E. Crawford, parents Taylor and Mary (Garland) Whitson; siblings Myrtle (Dave) Forbes, Gladys (Frank) Garland, Pearl (W.G.) Honeycutt, Nathan (Doris) Whitson, Ora (Ralph) Barger, Ed Whitson, Bonnie (Kyle) Harrison, Bill (Louise) Whitson, Beulah Whitson. Brothers/Sisters-in-law Willard Crawford, J. D. (Lorrene) Crawford, Eugene (Bea) Crawford, Edward (JoAnn) Crawford, Lorraine (Bob) Blair, Katherine Harr, and Mary Lynn Gentry, as well as several nieces and nephews.  

Surviving family members are her daughters Tammy (Tony) McFaddin (Kingsport) and Jennifer (Jaye) Crawford (Fall Branch), and son Roderick (Lisa) Crawford (Jonesborough); grandsons Micah McFaddin (Kingsport), Zach McFaddin (San Antonio, Texas), Seth (Andrea) McFaddin (Bluff City), 1LT Noah (Madison) McFaddin (Raeford, NC), and Gage LeFevre; great grandsons, Jackson, Sam, Wesley, and Levi McFaddin; sister Martha (David) Gschwind (Johnson City); sisters-in-law Doris (Ed) Whitson (Gray), Barbara Crawford (Fall Branch), and Lucy Kincheloe (Jonesborough); special niece who was like a sister, Shirley Butler (Johnson City); a host of nephews and nieces, and 4 more generations of nephews and nieces, as well as cousins.  

The family will receive friends from 4pm to 6pm on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at Tri-Cities Baptist Church. A celebration of life service will follow with Pastor Mike Laughrun officiating. Music will be provided by Rep. Bud Hulsey and Jane Walker. 

Graveside service will be at the Mountain Home National Cemetery in Johnson City on Friday, September 19th, at 10 am with Minister/ family friend Clint Andrews. The following will serve as pallbearers: Grandsons Micah, Zach, Seth, and Noah McFaddin and Gage LeFevre, nephews Norris Barger and Craig Falls. Honorary pallbearers Eric Thacker and Tony McFaddin. Those wishing to attend are asked to meet at the cemetery by 9:50 am.  

Carter-Trent Funeral Home in Kingsport is serving the Crawford family.