W. R. "Bill" Cranford, 88, of Enigma died Friday, September 21, 2007, at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 23, 2007, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. Pete Jones and Rev. Jackie Conniee will officiate with burial to follow in Enigma Cemetery. Larry Crumbley, O. D. Owens, Darwin Walker, Cecil Giddens, Leroy LIttle and Jimmy Akins will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the men of Enigma Baptist Church. The family will receive friends on Saturday, September 22, 2007, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Cranford was born on October 29, 1918 in Dooly County and was the son of L. S. Cranford and Lennie Seago Cranford, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Lorene Henderson Cranford, who passed away in 1967; two brothers, Leonard Cranford and Leon Cranford; and one sister, Pauline Drawdy. He was a retired meat inspector for the State of Georgia and a member of Enigma Baptist Church. He was a World War II Veteran, a Mason, a Shriner, the Mayor of Enigma for 10 years, and an avid fishermand and fishing guide on the Suwanee River Flats in Florida.
Mr. Cranford is survived by his wife, Martha Cranford of Enigma; two step-sons, Danny Smith of Sylvester and Harris Smith of Tifton; two daughters, Patricia Hale of Enigma and Barbara Blanchard Stephens of Tifton; two brothers, Dee Cranford of Ashburn and Merrill Cranford of Griffin; one sister, Gladys Mixon of Lovejoy; four grandchildren, Steve Hale of Enigma, Sheila Cooper of Enigma, Mark Blanchard of Enigma and Randy Blanchard of Dallas, Texas; and nine great grandchildren.