Reverend Willie Crew
Reverend Willie Crew is the son of the late Frank and Helen Crew of Washington, GA. He was born on May 1, 1931. He received his education in the Wilkes County Public Schools. At an early age of fourteen, he received the desire to preach the gospel. He accepted Christ. Reverend Crew joined New Hope CME Church in Washington, GA. At the age of eighteen on a visit to Atlanta, GA, he decided to stay in the city and joined Linden Street CME Church under the leadership of the later Reverend E.D. Bryson. Reverend Crew served there for two years as an usher. It was while he was serving as an usher, he accepted the call to preach the gospel. Reverend Crew preached his trial sermon on July 28, 1950, under the watchful eyes of the late Reverend G.C. Jay, presiding elder, and also the late Reverend E.D. Bryson. In 1951, he was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served from July 1951 to April 1955. After completion of his military duty, Reverend Crew returned home to Washington, GA, and continued his ministry.
He served four months on the Newburn Circuit, under Presiding Elder L.R. Williams. In November 1955, Reverend Crew was admitted on trial to the Georgia Annual Conference. He was assigned to his first church, Shiloh CME Church in Tignall, GA, where he served faithfully for two years. His distinguishing ministry has covered and touched many lives and saved numerous souls in the following areas: Butts Circuit, Monticello, GA, Newburn Circuit, Norwood Circuit, Warrenton Circuit (16 years), and in 1982, under Presiding Elder L.R. Neal, Reverend Crew was assigned to the Lincoln Circuit; during that time Mulberry, Pleasant Grove, and Antioch CME Churches were included.
Reverend Crew's accomplishments included building three churches during his ministry (Prospect CME Church in Monticello, GA; Mt. Aldred and Stony Grove CME Churches in Thomson, GA). Prior to his retirement, he completed a major addition to Pleasant Grove CME Church in Lincolnton, GA. During his ministry, Reverend Crew was known to mentor young preachers regardless of their denomination.
Reverend Crew married Mary Pauline Smith of Tignall, GA, on December 31, 1956, and they were blessed with three children: Deacon Dwight Crew of Fayetteville, NC; Reverend Dwayne Crew of Fort Valley, GA; and Melba Brown Hopewell, VA.
Reverend Crew retired from the ministry in 1997, due to declining health after forty-three years of dedicated service to the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. He was employed for 25 years at the Rayle EMC, Washington, GA. As a true soldier of the cross, he continued to bear witness to God's redeeming grace until his passing on August 11, 2006.
Funeral services for Reverend Willie Crew will be held Wednesday, August 16, 2006, at 1 PM at Springfield Baptist Church. The body will lie in state from 11 AM until the hour of service. Interment will be in the City West Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-7 PM on Tuesday, August 15, at DavenportMcLendon Mortuary, Inc. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the professional services of Davenport-McLendon Mortuary, Inc., 706678-2411.
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