Master Sgt. James Anthony Ratchford, USAF, Ret., 76, of California, formerly of Gaffney, passed away September 12, in Arroyo Grande, California.

He was born in Gaffney and was a son of the late M.B. Ratchford, Sr. and Alice Coleman Ratchford.

James was a graduate of Granard High School, a former member of Bethel Baptist Church, and a retired Master Sgt. in the United States Air Force.

Surviving are: 3 sons, Terence, Shawn, and James A. Ratchford, Jr., of California; daughter, Octavia Despres (Michael) of CA; brother, Rev. Franklin B. Ratchford (Audrey) of Columbia; a sister, Gloria Orr, of Stamford, CT.

A visitation service will be held Tuesday, September 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. in The Gilmore Mortuary Chapel. Interment will be held on Wednesday, September 27, 10 a.m., in M.J. Dolly Cooper Veteran’s Cemetery in Anderson.

The Gilmore Mortuary
www.gilmoresmortuary.com

Annie Maude Surratt Crawford was born in Cleveland County, North Carolina on April 11, 1951 to Rev. Clarence L. Surratt and Mary Alice Hamilton Surratt.

Early in her life, she joined Suck Creek Baptist Church. Annie was last employed at Hardee’s in Rutherfordton, NC.

She loved the Lord, her family, friends, and people in general. She will always be remembered for the love she gave to all.

On Saturday, September 16, 2017, Annie answered the Master’s call in Hospice of Rutherford County, NC. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bennie Junior Crawford; her parents, and 25 siblings.

Loving memories will forever be cherished by: two daughters, Teannie Shelton and Crystal Michelle Crawford; god children, Thomas Camp and Mary Rivera; five grandchildren, Christina Michelle Shelton, Bennie Micheal Shelton, Chelsea Maria Crawford, Christopher Carpenter, and Porcha Carpenter; two great-grandchildren, Shantel Carson and Jamar Shelton; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Services will be Friday, September 22nd at 3:00 pm, in New Bethel A.M.E. Zion Church of Forest City, NC with Reverend Leroy Staley, Pastor, officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

She will be in state in the church Saturday at 2:00 p.m.