The Rev.Clarence L.McCraw of 1846 Lincoln Road;Pittsburgh;a former Monessen resident and pastor of the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Whitsett for the past nine years;died Thursday;Jan.7;1982;in St.Francis General Hospital. Rev.McCraw was born Dec.10;1914;in Dunbar;a son of the late James McCraw and Elmira McCraw Lacy. In 1924 his family moved to Monessen. He graduated from Monesen High School in 1933 and then moved to Youngstown;Ohio. Rev.McCraw returned to Monessen and served in the Medical Corps during World War ll in Europe and the Far East. He graduated from Mount Sinai School of Nursing in Chicago; Ill.; and was head
nurse at Highland Drive VA
Hospital; Pittsburgh; until his
retirement. Rev. McCraw joined the
Union Baptist Church at a
very young age. He served as
director of the Junior Choir;
organized and directed the
Mon Valley Chorale and gave
concerts in Los Angeles;
Calif.; Chicago; Ill.; Atlantic
City; N.J.; and in many Mon
Valley towns.
He was ordanined a deacon
and served in this capacity
until he was ordained to the
ministry alter attending the
Theological Seminary In Pittsburgh.
He became pastor of the
Pilgrim Best Baptist Church; Whitsett in 1972 and served
in that capacity until his
death.
In addition to his parents;Rev. McCraw was preceded
in death by a brother; Harry
K. McCraw; on Dec. 19;1971.
Survivors include two sons;
James Leonard McCraw; the
band master at Fort lluachuca; Ariz.; and Robert Mitchell McCraw a doctoral
candidate at Michigan State
University in East Lansing;
Mich.; four grandsons; Anthony and Jeffrey McCraw of
Arizona and Robert and Michael McCraw of California; a brother; Maurice McCraw of Aquasco; Md.; two
sisters; Mrs. Helen Little and Mrs. Etta Wilson; both of Monessen; a sister-in-law; Mrs. Ruby McCraw; a
brother-in-law; Alfred Little;and numerous nieces;
nephews and other relatives.
Friends will be received Saturday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
in the Draper Funeral Home;608 Sixth St.. Monessen; and Sunday from 2 to 9 p.m. in
the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church;Whitsett. Service will be held in the church Monday at 11 a.m.with William Calloway of Clairton officiating. Interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Draper Funeral directors are in charge of arrangements.