My mom, Maggie, was born June 12, 1928 in Wilson, N.C. to Lula and Zola Craft.
Zola couldn’t write his name yet he created a company during the depression that employed ten men. They were house painters and wallpaper hangers who were sought after by the wealthy. Lula had a little schooling but when God healed her at age 20, she became an Evangelist.
Grams Craft took Maggie to hear a 15 year old black female evangelist who was leading a revival in their town. Maggie was only 8 years old and didn’t want to go hear another sermon. When she wouldn’t sit still in church, grandmother allowed her to sit in the car. The speakers were loud and the car was open. Maggie heard the young girl pour out her heart about her faith. Her final thought for the evening was “What will you do about Jesus?” She talked about how he died for us and that as our creator it would be impossible to ignore Him or His love for you.
Mom was silent going home. Grandmother did not prompt or push her. At 3am Maggie woke Grams Craft and cried her heart out. She wanted to be a Christian and work for Jesus.
Just a few months later grandmother allowed her to stand on a box behind the pulpit. She was amazing as she presented a simple message of love and forgiveness. Maggie allowed tears to run down her face as she told the beautiful story of redemption. “Please come to the alter and let God change your life.” People began to get up and come forward. Many were saved that night. God took mom’s hand and led her to the beautiful path and journey that he had created just for her.
For years Grams Craft and Maggie traveled all over the south holding tent meetings, bush arbors, revivals and conferences. Though I haven’t been able to find the article, mom told me that a large magazine interviewed her for an article on child preachers. She wasn’t sure if it was Life Magazine or Saturday Evening Post.
She tried to keep up with school, but it was impossible. In the 30’s revival services might last until midnight. The main problem though was that mom would rather read the Bible than read about some school subject. Most of the kids at school made fun of her and didn’t understand this little girl who only wanted to talk about Jesus. When she missed half of the 3rd grade, she quit school and became a full time evangelist.
Maggie loved people. She loved meeting all kinds of people. Once she found out a little about someone’s life, she became fixated on their soul. She knew how to connect with their problems and help them to see their need for God. Her love of all people caused her to link their existence here with the certainty of an afterlife. Nothing else mattered as much as knowing that individual would enjoy an eternity in Heaven. That desire caused her to ask pointed questions and to get to the basics. “Do you know Jesus? He can help you live a better life. He will give you the prize of Heaven. Won’t you come meet this Savior that I love so much?”
That was her focus. That was her goal. To help everyone find Jesus – the real Jesus. Not a trumped up Jesus. Not an ineffective passive Jesus. But…the King of Kings – the powerful all consuming Jesus!
At 15 mom wrote her first song. She loved to sing for Jesus. While other teens were bopping at the soda shop, mom was writing music and singing for Jesus.
When Grandmother was unable to travel, mom refused to let that stop her. She was on a mission from God. She bought a car and began to hold meetings on her own. It’s hard for me to imagine a 15 year old traveling on two lane roads across many states – alone. Mom was a beautiful teen. But when I asked if she had any trouble, was frightened or had men bother her, she smiled, “Why would they? God protected me. Who would want to take on the Angel that always stood behind me?”
At 22 she began dating my dad who was only 18. He too felt called to preach. When he asked her to marry him, it took a while to receive an answer. She prayed and fasted for weeks. She wrote the song, “I don’t want Nothin’ Here to Hinder Me.” That song was about her dilemma wondering if it was God’s will for her to marry Dad. She wanted to be sure that they would continue to work for God. There was never any question in her mind that Dad would be second in her focus. Dad assured her that God would also be first for him.
They eloped and were married in a simple chapel by a justice of the peace on November 2, 1950. I was born 10 months later.
Mom and Dad held revivals until I was six years old. At that point they decided to settle into one church. Although Dad took a leadership role as pastor, mom used all her skills to support him and to make their work a success.
She played any instrument needed in the service.
She wrote 27 songs over her lifetime. I Don’t Need to Understand is the title song on Jimmy Swaggart’s gold album.
I don’t want Nothin’ down here to hinder me and He was wounded for me are also best sellers and international.
She organized the Sunday School and led hard working ladies groups. No one could put together a social event like Maggie. She could round up the workers and the get the job done quickly.
She counseled with the ladies, preached and sang anytime she was needed. She loved people and they knew they could just drop by the parsonage any time to talk to Maggie. There was always a pie or cake in the fridge and a warm hug waiting.
While pastoring in Marion, Indiana – Dad was called to the mission field. He did a three month revival tour that took him literally around the world. While he was gone, mother took over as pastor of the church. She handled everything – even difficult personalities. That’s when she wrote the song I Don’t Need to Understand, I just need to hold his hand. She held God’s hand and worked hard. When Dad returned 30 new members greeted him and the church continued to grow.
In the 1960’s they pioneered a new church in Atlanta. They built it from scratch with no organizational help. Dad painted signs to pay the bills and mom worked at a Women’s retail store called Big Girl Fashions. Mom loved to dress up and she loved bling. When helping women, she would giggle her way to help large women pick out flattering clothes, and all the accessories to make it special. I remember hearing her tell one woman, “Honey you just can’t buy that. It’s not flattering. Let me help you.” Customers trusted her and Mom became Big Girl Fashion’s biggest seller. They wanted her to become a manager, but she felt that might interfere with her work at the church.
The store also did a fashion show. Yep….the preacher, song writer, lover of people became a model for Big Girl Fashions. When she was interviewed for the paper they asked how she became a success, “Everything I do is for God. He loves his children and he wants us all to have a great life. That includes looking our best.”
When it was time for her customers to check out, she took the time to ask them about their soul and to encourage them to go to church.
In the 70’s mom decided to get her GED certificate. She studied long and hard but finally became a high school graduate.
Soon after she received her GED, she went to school to become a licensed Real Estate Agent. She loved the process of selling real estate but it was really hard for her to list a house. She spent most of her time talking to people about God rather than pushing to list their house!
Mom never worried about her own promotions or whether or not a job was beneath her. If it needed to be done – she gathered some help and completed the job. When they built the church in Conyers, mom helped dig ditches, cut grass, cleaned up debris from construction workers and pushed wheel barrows full of supplies to men who were working. She cooked meals and fed workers. She made sure everyone had something to drink on a regular basis. Once the building was built, she vaccumed, painted, arranged and made sure the inside was as beautiful as the outside.
Family was the most important thing to her after her faith. She made time for the grandchildren every week. She took them to six flags, shopping center rides, bowling and parks. She was not one to sit around. When they ran in the door, her favorite saying was….“Let’s go have some funzie wonzie!”
Once on a family trip to six flags, mom wanted to ride a rapid river ride. She was all dressed up with her bling, cute pedal pushers and hair sprayed to the max. We were sitting in the boat enjoying the ride until the float came to rest under a water fall that dumped all it had on mom! When the boat finally moved away mom looked like she had been through a car wash. Instead of being angry, she laughed her way to the bathroom. She stripped down and handed me her clothes to hold under the hand dryer. When she was a little bit dryer she sat on a sunny bench to let her shoes dry. She played with her hair until it was curled around her face. When she caught up to us she was laughing and ready to go again.
Mom loved children. It didn’t matter if they were hers or not. She loved laughing with children and stopping to talk to them in the mall. Every child received special attention from mom.
Mom loved to laugh. Her laugh could be heard from a distance. It was full and loud and seemed to bubble up from her toes. It was infectious and beautiful!
When we went out to eat, the whole world was her family. She would get up from our table and go over to a table across the room. Within 3 minutes they were telling her their life story, listening to her talk about Jesus and melting into tears as she prayed for them. When she returned to our table she would grin as if nothing special had happened. “I could tell they needed a friend and needed to talk.
When mom and Dad retired from pastoring, they became missionaries to the mall. They would go several times a week to have lunch at Chick-fil-A. If mom saw someone looking sad, she invited them to come to her table. Like Jesus waiting at the well, mom and dad ate a chicken sandwich and shared the love of Jesus.
The day I had to admit mom into a nursing home, I wondered if her ministry would end. It only took a week for me to know that this love of Jesus would last until the end of her life. Confined to a wheel chair mom rolled around the home and talked to people about Jesus. She went into patient’s rooms and prayed for them. She helped others in the lunch room. She would load her lap with bibs and make sure everyone had a bib for their meal. A table of men who didn’t have as much arm mobility as she did always received a bib from mom, a pat on the arm and a prayer for their health.
As I said, mom loved to dress up. In the home I did her hair, help her get dressed and of course….she had to have her bling on. I bought a rhinestone star necklace, a cheap wedding set (they wouldn’t let her have her real rings) and a rhinestone bracelet. She loved them and wore them everyday until they began to lose their luster. Mom didn’t care as long as she had bling to put on.
Nurses and aids would feel mom pat their behind (that’s what she could reach from her chair) and say, “Can I pray for you today?” One aid told me that mom started doing that to her while she was suffering through a nasty divorce. “I wouldn’t have made it through that horrible experience without your mom.”
As mom’s physical problems advanced I found out that everyone in the home had been blessed and touched by her sweet loving nature. Her love for people and her desire to share her faith and the love of Christ did not stay within the walls of her room, it went out into the daily lives of everyone who came in contact with her..
Mom’s life is a reflection of 2 Timothy 4:7-8 and Acts 20:24
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (8) From now on the crown of righteousness is laid up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me but to all who crave His appearing….. 2 Timothy 4:7-8
But I consider my life of no value to myself, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus–the ministry of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20:24
Thank you mom for showing all of us that it is possible to run the race, never give up and live for Jesus until the day we pass into Heaven!
I am more than confident that my mom, “Maggie” Crocker has received her crown and is enjoying all the joys of Heaven.
Now Her bling – that crown she won – will never wear out and she can enjoy it for all eternity!