Mr. Toney Crawford

CRAWFORD, Mr. Toney Lee - Age 68, passed away Friday, November 9, 2012 at McLaren -Flint. Family hour 1:30 p.m. Friday, November 16, 2012 from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., with funeral service commencing at 2 p.m. Supt Lamar Griggs, officiating. Interment Lovedale Memorial Cemetery, G-5175 E. Bristol Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the funeral home 1;30 p.m. Friday. Mr. Crawford will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, and may be viewed from 12 noon-8 p.m. Thursday. Mr. Toney Lee “Top Cat” Crawford was born in Blytheville, Arkansas, the son of the late Jack Crawford and Josephine Buford. He received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age at Zion Hill Baptist Church. Following his God-given gift of song, he started his musical career with the “Heavenly Bounds”. He later recorded and produced a single, “747” with the late Archie Hawkins and Clarence Keys. At an early age, he lived in Benton Harbor, MI before moving to Flint, where he attended Flint Northern High School. “Top Cat” worked for Buick City, a division of General Motors for 30+ years and was a member of UAW Local #599. Toney loved to travel and after retiring, he moved to “Viva” Las Vegas, NV. He enjoyed listening to music, watching his favorite basketball team the L.A. Lakers and Michigan “Go Blue”. Mr. Toney Lee Crawford leaves to cherish his memory: mother of his children, Ola (Ray) Johnson; daughters, Antionette (Keith) Bendenfield, Lydia (Mark) Hawkins, Josephine Crawford, Artisha (Michael) Wallace and Lavinia Palmer-Tucker; 16 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; a host of cousins including special cousins, Mattie Bea and Valerie, Trina and Pam; a host of friends including special friends, James “Smiley” Smith, ‘Cookie” Johnson, Deborah Seaborn and Theodis Jones. Mr. Crawford was preceded in death by his parents, Jack Crawford and Josephine (Raymond) Buford and grandparents, Mable (Earl) Johnson. The family would like to express special thanks to friends and family, Smiley James Smith, Larry, Sativia, Brittney Bendenfield, Michael Wallace, Sr., McLaren Visiting Nurses and caregivers.

Mr. Toney Crawford

January 24, 1944 - November 9, 2012