Stephen Crawley
Our Grandfather Stephen Crawley was the fifth child born to Abram and Hester in Social Circle Georgia. His children were Norcisses, Adolphus, Ray, Thomas (Tom), Alunious, Leamon, Alberta , Amelia, and Vernell.
As we all know living conditions were difficult in Georgia during Slavery. During this time there were Crawley family members and friends of the Crawley family living in Gibsland, Louisiana. One be the name of Frank Hawk. Frank convinced Stephen Crawley who lived in Georgia that the living conditions in Louisiana were somewhat better than Georgia. After receiving this information in 1901 Stephen decided to take his family and move to Gibsland, Louisiana. With very little money and baggage they proceeded to travel by train with nine of their children, two more were born in Louisiana.
They were a loving Christian Family. After living in Gibsland for a while they moved to Mr. Lebanon and started sharecropping. A few years later Stephen earned enough money to purchase acres of farmland. Stephen prospered until his death early in the 1920's. It is believed that Mary died in the early 1930's. From that time on it was an upward movement for the family.
On February 4, 1888, Stephen and Mary Crawley were blessed with a wonderful son named Tom Cleveland Crawley. He was the fourth child born to this Family. He grew up to be an outstanding figure in the community and a family oriented man. He met his lovely wife Miss Leona Banks, in the Pleasant Hill Community of Gibsland, Louisiana. On January 28, 1912 they were united in Holy Matrimony. To that union eleven children were born - Odessa (deceased), Ethel, Willie Mae (deceased), Morrell (deceased), Thomas (deceased), Sanford, Levester, Vernell, James, Merlene, and Dorothy.
Tom and Leona were both active and highly respected in their community. They were active members in the Springfield Missionary Baptist Church. They were parents who strived for the education of their children........AND AS PRODUCTS OF THIS UNION, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO UPHOLD THEIR VALUES IN OUR LIVES, SO THAT THE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF CRAWLEY'S CAN STAND PROUD TO BE A DESCENDANT OF THE CRAWLEY FAMILY.