James Merrell Craven Services for James Merrell Craven will be held Friday, September 23, 2011 at 11:30 at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home Chapel, with Reverend Mike Russell and Dr. Marcus Finch officiating. Burial will be in the Mississippi Veterans Cemetery, Newton, County. Mr. Craven, 74, of Meridian, died Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at Anderson Regional Medical Center. He was a Deacon and Sunday School Teacher at Oak Hill Baptist Church. Mr. Craven retired from the Mississippi Air National Guard. He was employed with Specialty Roll Products after a long career in the trucking industry. He will be remembered as a loving Husband, Daddy, Papaw and Great Papaw. Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Elizabeth Hensley Craven; sons, Mark Craven and his wife Emily of Collinsville, Scott Craven and his wife Lisa of Meridian; daughters, Beth Goodman and her husband Murphy of Collinsville, Leigh Moore and her husband Troy of Collinsville; grandchildren, Rick Hasselle, Jr. and his wife Claire, Lauren Smith and her husband Matt, Lance Goodman, Luke Goodman, Sydney Craven, Andrew Craven, Trent Moore, Austin Moore, and Lane Moore; great-grandchildren, Katie Hasselle, Gibson Hasselle, and Graham Smith; brothers, Dr. Bobby Craven and his wife Ann of Meridian, Jerry Craven and his wife Katrina of Collinsville; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Velma and Raymond Craven Sr.; brother, Raymond Craven Jr.; great-grandchildren, Will and Ben Hasselle. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Rick Hasselle, Jr., Matt Smith, Lance Goodman, Luke Goodman and close friends Ronnie Slay, and Charlie Smith. Honorary pallbearers will be his Sunday school class, Jesse Barnett, Harold Blackmon, Lynwood Clayton, Bob Cowan, Bufford Crain, Jerry Crenshaw, Irvin Martin, Jr., Milton Pace, Frank Ragsdale III, Winfrey Sikes and Virgil Smith. In lieu of flowers and gifts memorials may be made to Oak Hill Baptist Church Building fund. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com. Visitation will be held Thursday, 5-8 at the funeral home.
