Dr. Ruby M. Craven

DARLINGTON | Dr. Ruby Mae Craven, 92, passed away Wednesday, July 12, 2006 at the Bethea Baptist Home in Darlington.

Dr. Craven was born in the Friendship Community of Marion County, a daughter of Abraham Preston Craven and Martha Wylma Shelley Craven.

She graduated from Winthrop College with a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics and from the University of Tennessee with a Masters degree in management of family resources. She held a fellowship at the University of Wisconsin to earn the Ph.D. in extension administration.

Dr. Craven taught in the public schools of S.C. for seven years and joined the Clemson Extension Service in 1941. She held Extension Service positions of assistant home economics agent, home economics agent, specialist in family resource management, district agent in the Savannah District and retired in 1976 as State Leader of Extension Home Economics, Emeritus.

Among Dr. Craven's numerous memberships in local and professional organizations are The American and South Carolina Association of Family and Consumer Science, AAUW, National Association of Retired Federal Employees, Association of Winthrop Alumni, Association of Retired Clemson Extension Employees, Epsilon Sigma Phi, National Honorary Extension Fraternity, South Carolina State Employees Association, The Nature Conservancy, National Trust for Historical Preservation and The Pee Dee Chapter of the S.C. Genealogical Society.

Among her honors are The Mary Mildred Sullivan Award from Winthrop University, Distinguished Award from Clemson University, the Cornerstone Award from the Association of Extension Home Economics, State Award for Retired Service by Epsilon Sigma Phi, Order of the Palmetto Award made by Governor David Beasley and the Susan B. McWhorter Outstanding Woman Prefessional Award from the Association of Women Professionals, Clemson Chapter.

Dr. Craven was past president of the S.C. Home Economics Association, the president of the state presidents Unit of the American Home Economics Association, and president and treasurer of the Clemson Club of Winthrop Alumni.

She also served on the boards of the Winthrop Alumni Association and the Winthrop Foundation. Dr. Craven also served as executive secretary of the Association of Retired Clemson Extension Employees.

Dr. Craven loved the natural areas of her state and had great enjoyment of Lake Hartwell on which she lived for 33 years and shared it with friends and family.

Her other main hobby was publishing her two family histories.

Dr. Craven was a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church of Florence and had served one term as deacon in the Clemson First Baptist Church, where she was a member for 40 years.

She served as a teacher in the several churches of which she was a member during her life time.

Surviving are three nephews, Kenneth Craven of Marion, Ashley (Jenks) Craven of Florence and Frank (Kay) Craven of Savannah; a niece, Martha Craven (David) Stackhouse of Marion; 16 great-nieces and great-nephews, Curtis (Connie) Johnson of North Myrtle Beach, Elizabeth Johnson and Daniel Mansy of Wheatin, Ill., Hubert (Joyce) Avant of Yemassee, Brenda Avant and Jimmy Bennett of James Island, Larry (Katherine) Avant of Johns Island, Angela Avant and Charles Chavis of Johns Island, John (Janice) Norton of Little Switzerland, N.C., Charles (Katherine) Norton of Lugoff, David (Kathleen) Norton of Rock Hill; Benji (Barbara) Norton of Irmo, Kasey (Amanda) Craven of Greenville, Freddie Webb of Florence, and Charles Stackhouse, David Stackhouse II, Elizabeth Stackhouse and William Stackhouse, all of Marion. Also surviving are great-great-nieces and nephews; and great-great-great-nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her sisters, Odell Craven Utley and Lois Craven; and her brothers, Leon Craven, Hal G. Craven and Auburn P. Craven.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 15, 2006 at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 524 S. Ebenezer Road in Florence.

Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion, directed by Smith-Collins Funeral Home of Marion.

Visitation will be held Friday evening, July 14, 2006 from 6 until 7:30 p.m. at the Bethea Baptist Home Chapel in Darlington.

The family will also receive friends Saturday afternoon, July 15, 2006, one hour prior to the service, at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Florence and following the committal service at Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion.

Sign a guest book at Myrtle BeachOnline.com.

Memorials may be made to the Ruby Craven Endowed Scholarship Fund, c/o Winthrop University Foundation, 126 Tillman Hall, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC 29733 or to the Friendship Cemetery Fund, c/o Martha Taylor, 6107 Hwy. 9, Gresham, SC 29546.

Smith-Collins Funeral Home of Marion is proud to be serving the family of Dr. Craven.