Service Announcements

Ms. Doris Hicks Crawford 93, formerly of Charlotte, NC passed away Monday, July 27, 2026 at her residence in Morning Star @River Oaks Sr. Living Center in Houston, TX. Celebration of her life will be held Friday, August 7, 2026 at Grace AME Zion Church 3722 David Cox Rd. Charlotte, NC 28269. Visitation will begin at 10:30 AM and the Service will follow at 11:00 AM . Interment will be in the York Memorial Park Cemetery 5150 S.Tryon St. Charlotte, NC 28217.

Doris Hicks Crawford, age 93, of Charlotte, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on July 27, 2026, in Houston, Texas, after a long, fruitful, and purpose-filled life.

Born on February 10, 1933, in Clinton, NC, to Cassel and Justine Hicks, farmers and respected members of the community. Doris was the last of five siblings. Growing up during challenging times, Doris never let obstacles stop her from achieving her goals. As the daughter and eldest child of sharecroppers and later self-sufficient farmers, she learned the value of hard work from an early age working in the cotton and tobacco fields of eastern North Carolina. The first in her family to graduate from college, she finished North Carolina Central University, Durham NC, with a degree in education. There she met a football player from Charlotte, James W. Crawford, Jr., whom she later married in 1957. As an educator, Doris taught in a few North Carolina cities, but spent the large part of her career in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System for 37 years. First at Billingsville Elementary, but principally at Northwest Junior High School. She loved her students and the people she worked with, and often guided.

A longtime resident of 1230 Dean Street, in Oaklawn Park Charlotte, a community of achievers and servants in Christ, she and James raised two children, James W. Crawford, III, and Stephanie Louise Crawford. Ever ready to offer guidance or correction, Doris was filled with love, kindness, and unwavering dedication to her family and friends. After marrying James Jr., Doris, a member of First Baptist Church, Clinton, NC, joined Grace AME Zion Church, Charlotte, NC. Doris and James built a home where love and support was in abundant supply for James III, and Stephanie. Doris lived a life of purpose and intention and passed that legacy on to her children.

Doris was known for her strength of spirit, readiness to lend a hand to family, friends, and colleagues alike, and her commitment to Grace AME. She had a gift for gardening and there was no better cook. A professional to be emulated, she touched countless lives through her career in education, community involvement, her church, and dedication to her family.

Doris is survived by her son, James W. Crawford, III, daughter-in-law, Elizabeth A. Crawford, and grandsons Nicholas James and Alexander Stephan Crawford. She was preceded in death by her husband James W. Crawford, Jr., and beloved daughter Stephaine Louise Crawford. Doris is also survived by her Hicks family, of Clinton NC, nephews, Ronnie and Kenneth and nieces, Brenda, Sallie, Peggy Jean, and Cynthia; her Hicks family of Atlanta GA, nieces, Sharon, Shabar, and Shirell; her Nelson family, nephews Michael, Broderick, Charlton, and Oliver and nieces, Carmen, Yvette, and Yvonne; her Vann family, nephews Willie, Douglas, Bobby, and Ghon; and Cogdell family, Harold.

Doris’ life was committed to faith, family, and service and her legacy of love and resilience will live on in the hearts of all who knew her. She will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever cherished by her family, friends, neighbors, and communit