Lillie Mae Miller Craig

Lillie Mae Miller Craig
Mrs. Craig, 90, died at The White Oaks Retirement Home in Charlotte, NC on Friday, February 11, 2011. Mrs. Craig was born in 1920, the daughter of the late Susan Johnson Miller and Ulysees Grant Miller. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Otis Craig, whom she married in 1956 and helped him raise her four stepchildren, the late Otis Craig, Jr., the late Burl Craig the late Annette Craig and Odell Craig of Laurens, SC.
In her early years she lived in Rock Hill, SC and was hired in 1942 by Mr. and Mrs. Edward M. O'Herron Jr. of Charlotte, NC prior to moving to Quantico, VA where Mr. O'Herron was stationed in the Marine Corps prior to deporting to the Pacific. She served the family in numerous capacities from raising their four children, the late Eddie O'Herron, Billy O'Herron of Myrtle Beach, SC, Patty O'Herron Norman of Charlotte and Ken O'Herron of Raleigh, NC, to continuing with the family for 65 years.
Mrs. Craig's true loves were her dogs, the late Queenie and Fluffy Craig and Blossom, Red, and Max Craig of Charlotte, who are the primary beneficiaries of her estate.
She was a dedicated member of the Greenville Memorial AME Zion Church where she served as a member virtually all her life in Charlotte and for fifty years was a member of the Usher Board within the Church. Until she became ill, there were not many Sundays when she was not in attendance, and she will be remembered for her profound loyalty all these years.
Lillie, as she was known to all who knew her, was known for her straight talk and dry wit. She was a self-made woman, having taught herself how to read since she did not attend school as a young girl. She was straightforward, incredibly hard working, honest to the core and loved her fellow men and women as if they were her own brothers and sisters.
Mrs. Craig is survived by her sister-in-law, Esse Johnson Miller of Charlotte, and her children Dorthea Miller Morrison, Elizabeth Miller Wood, Gordon Miller, Mary Miller Wiley and Walter Miller, all of Charlotte, and many great- and great-great-nieces and -nephews including her godchild, Tiffany Miller of Charlotte.
In addition to the Craig sons, she is survived by Odell's wife, Hazel, Burl Craig's wife, Myrtle of Charlotte, and Otis Jr.'s wife, Judy, of New Jersey and their 22 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Gladys Craig.
After suffering from a stroke in 2005, Mrs. Craig was cared for by her first cousin's grandson, Michael Collins King, Jr., for over 5 years. Most family members called Mrs. Craig 'Aunt Lillie,' including cousin Michael Collins King, Sr. and his wife, Cheryl, as well as Michael Sr.'s children, Michael, Jr., De Collins, Lacora, Landon Collins King and stepson, Jantzen Carter.
The O'Herron family is especially grateful to Ms. Nelta Farnsworth and Mr. Ken Coe who helped manage her affairs.
The service will be at Greenville Memorial AME Zion Church on Sunday, February 20th at 2:00 pm with Dr. Shelden Shipman officiating. Interment will follow at Beatties Ford Memorial Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Saturday, February 19 at King's Funeral Home, 4000 Beatties Ford Rd., Charlotte at 7pm-8pm.
Memorial gifts may be sent to The Humane Society, 2700 Toomey Ave., Charlotte, NC 28203 or Greenville Memorial AME Zion Church, 6116 Monteith Dr., Charlotte, NC 28213.
The family is being served by King's Funeral Home of Charlotte.