Patricia Ann McCraw

Pat McCraw passed away peacefully at home on August 29, 2026, at the age of 89. She was born in Philadelphia and grew up in South Jersey. She graduated from Bucknell University in 1959. After graduation, she met and married her husband, Jack, and they made their home in Charlotte.

Born on August 7, 1937, Pat was a child during WWII. While her father was overseas, she lived in Atlantic Highlands, NJ to be near her mother’s family. After the war, her parents bought a beach house in Stone Harbor, NJ which started her lifelong love of the beach.

Jack preceded Pat in death after 49 years together. Together, they raised four children and enjoyed shared interest in attending the symphony, traveling and sporting events. They shared these interests with their children providing fond memories and traditions that have passed down to the next generations. Pat was the fun grandmother for her five treasured grandchildren. She loved being able to share in their events and graduations. But more importantly, she loved taking her family to the beach or on fun trips. She was accurately nicknamed, “The Legend”, on a family cruise to Alaska by a member of the crew. She lived that nickname to everyone in her family. She was so happy as the family grew with grandchildren-in-laws and great-grandchildren, enhancing her life even more.

For more than two decades, Pat was a teacher’s assistant with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. She started teaching at Dilworth Elementary and moved over to Barringer Elementary to teach in their math lab. She spent most of her teaching career at Beverly Woods Elementary School, teaching third grade. She touched the lives of many children and fellow staff members. You could go nowhere in town without her recognizing and speaking with a former student or co-worker.

After retirement, she became a docent at the Mint Museum and loved getting to lead tours for the many school groups that came there. She volunteered for special exhibitions and spent many hours helping with the annual potter’s market. She also went on several art-focused trips with other docents which she thoroughly enjoyed. Going to museums and appreciating art were must do activities when traveling with her.

Pat was a lifelong member of Dilworth United Methodist Church. Pat was a Sunday school teacher and circle member for many years. Later in her life, she enjoyed going to bible study and church functions. She would grab any visitor that was sitting alone near her on a Sunday morning and make them sit with her or introduce them to others around her.

Pat moved to the Carolina Orchard neighborhood in Fort Mill, SC in 2016. She made a point of meeting new neighbors and helping them get connected in the neighborhood. She loved her Village G community and all of the friends she made living in the neighborhood. She was active till the end with many neighbors coming to wish her a happy 89th birthday.

Pat is survived by her children, David and Jennie McCraw, Martha and Bob David, John and Katie McCraw, and Sally McCraw; her adopted family member, Jenny Parlier; and her grandchildren, Brooke and Judah Margulies, Alysa David, Kimberly and Caleb Baity, Ellie and Daniel Lor and Sam David; and her great-grandchildren Catherine Baity, Maisie Margulies, Matthew Baity, and Jack Margulies; and her brother and sister-in-law, Eric and Peggy Burkett; and her sister and brother-in-law, Tina and Jim Wadkins. She was reunited in peace with her husband, Jack McCraw; her parents John Paul and Esther Burkett; and her brother and sister-in-law, JP and Colleen Burkett.

A celebration of life service for Pat will be held at Dilworth United Methodist Church, 605 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC on Friday, October 9th at 1:00PM. A visitation with family and friends will follow at the church. Memorial contributions can be made Dilworth United Methodist Church Capital Campaign or Agape Care Hospice in Rock Hill, SC.