Celebration of Life

Mary Zita Tate Crawford, more affectionately known as Mama, Maw Maw and Fat, was born March 22, 1939 to Samuel Walter Tate, Sr. and Doshia Bailey Stowe in York, South Carolina. Mom was the only child from her Mother and the oldest of 12 from her Dad. Mom was a loving and praying mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend who loved spreading the good news to all she came in contact with. She showed her love by always accepting everyone as they were. One of Mom’s essential principles was always treating others the way you want to be treated and would also say, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say NOTHING at all”. Mom not only loved her family, but she loved God most. Everyone knows Mom has been saved all of our lives, and she was not ashamed nor afraid of telling everybody about somebody who can save anybody. Mom was surely the matriarch of our family. Words cannot express the life our mother lived. If you entered into our home not knowing Jesus, before you left, you would feel His presence and cry out what must I do to know Him and be saved. Mom would have church in our home every day of the week as the Preacher, the choir and the Mother of the church. She would always tell us that we are the church and we must always let our light shine for others to see the Lord in us.

Mom graduated from Reid High School, Class of 1957 and voted “Most Prettiest”. She was noted for saying, “Always do your best”, and that’s just what our Mother did.

Mom was a proud and active member of Sanctuary of Praise Ministries up until her health started declining. She served on the Gospel Choir and loved singing the praises of the Most High God. Mom loved serving the Lord in any capacity that would bring Glory to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Mom loved her Morning Glory family. Mom would feed anyone who came to her door with a sandwich and the Word. She also loved straightening all the young ladies’ hair in the surrounding area and you could rest assure every strand of hair on your head, forehead, neck and face would be pressed straight. Let her tell it, she never burnt you, it would always be the grease. The oil and anointing over her life would cause everyone to respect her and seek her wisdom and love in their time of need.

Mom was employed by Belmont Hosiery and Beltex Inc. and retired doing what she loved, taking care of her family. Mom loved cooking, cleaning, and hanging clothes on her clothesline. And yes, she would have church at the clothes line all by herself. She never allowed her responsibilities to dictate when, where or how she would praise her Lord.

Sixty-three years ago, on September 2nd, Mom married the love of her life, Tommy Lee Crawford. From this loving and inseparable union came six daughters, Mary Francine Arroyo (Jose’) of Gastonia, NC, LyTanna Margo Sadler of Belmont, NC, Sandra Delores Crawford of Belmont, NC, Veronica Antoinette Crawford of Belmont, NC, Serbrena Doshika Young (Kevin) of Lake Wylie, SC and April LeShay Crawford of Gastonia, NC.

On the afternoon of February 19, 2023, God called our Mom home to begin her new chapter as our Guardian Angel. She joins her Husband, both her parents, Step-father, Arthonia Stowe; grandson, Devon A. Crawford; sisters Peggy Tate and Deborah Tate both of Gastonia, NC; and brother Samuel Walter “Sam” Tate, Jr. (Cecila) of Gastonia, NC. Along with Mary’s daughters and immediate family, our Mom leaves to cherish her memories to six sisters; Martha Tate, Pastor Robbins Young, Mary Young (Melvin), Sheila Tate, all of Gastonia, NC; Laura Williamson (Kelvin) and Evelyn Williams (Gregory), both of Stanley, NC; one brother, Duncan Tate (Elizabeth “Libb”) of Gastonia, NC., three special sisters; Frances Barnette Kendrick of Clover, SC, Louizer Currence of Gastonia, NC and Marethia Davis of Belmont, NC; one sister-in-law, Lucille McElhaney and Reverend Cora Crawford, both of Gastonia, NC, Martha Crawford of Tennessee and Mary Elizabeth Crawford of Virginia Beach, VA; a special granddaughter; Tiffany Michelle Crawford of Belmont, NC, 24 Grandchildren, 34 Great Grandchildren and a host of other family and friends.

Our Mom, Mary Zita Tate Crawford, leaves a legacy of love, prayer, faith, support, and strength. She will FOREVER be missed, but her presence will always exist.

Funeral Arrangements Are As Follow:

PLACE: Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, 111 Lincoln Street, Belmont, NC 28012

DATE & TIME: Saturday, February 25, 2023 @ 1:00 P.M.

VISITATION: At the funeral home on Friday, February 25, 2023 from 4:00 until 8:00 P.M.

VISITATION: At the church on Saturday thirty minutes prior to service from 12:30 until 1:00 P.M.

BURIAL: Private