Roy Craddock III

1935 - 2022

Roy Craddock III, 87, of Manchester, beloved husband of the late Rosalyn L. Craddock, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, October 13, 2022, at Glastonbury Health Care. Roy was born on August 3,1935 in Eufaula, AL, the son of the late Roy Craddock II and the late Elizabeth (Grimes) Craddock. He is predeceased by his sister Eunice Jones of Hanover, MD Roy grew up in Hartford and was a graduate of Weaver High School. He attended the U.S. Air Force Accounting School, Central Connecticut State University, Hartford Institute of Accounting, Hillyer College and Morse School of Business. Roy served in the Air National Guard from 1957 to 1960, married Rosalyn Early Lee on May 21, 1961, started a family in Bloomfield, and later settled in Manchester, CT. Roy went to work for the City of Hartford Finance Department State of Connecticut Lab. In 1963, he became the first Black manager at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work, where he remained until 1970. Roy worked as the Director of Business Services at the Greater Hartford campus from 1970 until his retirement in 2000. Roy owned and operated Roy Craddock Tax Service from 1960 until 2008. Roy was an active member of Union Baptist and Shiloh Baptist Churches, where he served as treasurer, trustee, and finance advisor at Shiloh Church in Hartford. Roy served as an officer in the greater Hartford NAACP during the 1960s. Roy was also a member of several professional associations, including the National Association of Black Accountants, the National Association of Tax Preparers, and The Urban League of Greater Hartford. He was a Corporate Board Member of Hartford Neighborhood Centers, a member of the Connecticut Council of Black Students and Professionals in Higher Education, the National Planning Committee (AAHE), and served on the Majority Retreat Planning Committee - Higher Education. He was instrumental in helping to integrate the Hartford and Bloomfield schools during the 1960s and 1970s. During that time, he served as a member of the Bloomfield retirement committee and represented the town of Bloomfield when it won an All-American City award in 1970. While living in Manchester, he served on the Manchester Human Relations Committee in 1975. He leaves to mourn his three children, Cynthia Craddock of Chicopee, MA, Cheryl Craddock of Holyoke, MA, and Clayton Craddock of The Bronx, NY, and his grandchildren, Sahaar and Naseem Craddock both of New York City. Also, he leaves a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends. Roy will be remembered as a hardworking husband, father, brother, grandfather, and community leader. His family will receive friends on Saturday, October 29, 2022, from 9-10 a.m., at the Union Baptist Church, 1921 Main St., Hartford. A funeral service will follow at the church beginning at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at East Cemetery in Manchester. Samsel & Carmon Funeral Home in South Windsor has care of the arrangements. For online condolences, please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com.