Hardy Crawford

Hardy Crawford, 54, affectionately known as Big "H", resident of Jefferson City, Missouri, formerly of Wilson City, Missouri, died Monday, December 23, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri while visiting  family and friends.  He was born October 10, 1965 in Wyatt, Missouri  to the late William and Earline Crawford.   Hardy was the fourteenth and final child born to this glorious family.

Hardy grew up in Wilson City, MO, where he is one of the original and founding members of the “WCGs” of Wilson City.  Big “H” was a true gamer and served his community well. He graduated in 1984 from Charleston High School in Charleston, Missouri and received a basketball scholarship to attend Rend Lake College in Mount Vernon, Illinois.

Hardy accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized. He was a faithful, dedicated servant who attended Oak Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Guthrie, Missouri.

Hardy met and married the love of his wife and best friend Nishelle Verenna Emanuel, September 2, 1989. During their thirty plus years of marriage they raised two beautiful children, daughter Koko Charnice (born September 1990) and son Hardy Junior (born June 1994). Big “H” loved and adored his family and his family loved and cherished him dearly. In early 1998, the whole family joined and attended Oak Chapel Missionary Baptist Church where he proudly served as an usher. Hardy understood his time on earth was due to blessings from GOD and praised GOD as the head of his household.

Big “H” was a man of courage and selfless service who worked hard and long to take care of his family. He began his career in Corrections at the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City, Missouri and ended his career with the Jefferson City Correctional Facility where he worked in the most secure housing unit in the facility. Hardy’s most notable accomplishment was working with the youth outreach program titled Reach Out. He traveled all over Missouri delivering messages to young people about staying straight and out of trouble. Coach Big “H”, is what his infamous basketball team players of G-Unit proudly called him, he was a true mentor and father figure to his team.

He was preceded in death by his parents, mother-in-law, two brothers, one brother-in-law, and one loving sister.

He leaves to cherish his unforgettable memories, his lovely wife of more than 30 years, Nishelle Verenna Crawford (Emanuel), his precious daughter, KoKo Crawford and his exceptional son Hardy Crawford Jr, (Rebecca Johnson) six grandchildren: Elijah (4), Anika (10), Spencer (8), Myles (5), Violet (4), Jocelyn (1), seven brothers: Oscar Brown (Priscella) of Atlanta, GA, David Crawford of Columbus, OH, Robert “Bobby” Crawford (Opal) of Chicago, IL, Will Davis of Wilson City, MO, Earnest Crawford (Joyce) of Jefferson City, MO, Jewell Crawford (Barbara) of Waynesville, MO, four sisters: Mary Doyle of Jefferson City, MO, Helen Davis of Fulton, MO, Linda White (John) of Cleveland, OH, Brenda Townes of Cleveland, OH, one sister-in-law, Annetta Gardner (Jerome) of St. Louis, MO, and five wonderful brothers-in-law, Marcus Emanuel (Tomeko) of Charleston, MO, Kevin Emanuel (Keisha) of Wilson City, MO, Brent Emanuel of St. Joseph, MO, Everick Emanuel of Charleston, MO, Cornell Petty of Fontana, CA, and a host of uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, cousins, and an extremely close group of friends.

Friends may call Friday, January 3, 2020 from 11:00 AM until the funeral hour of 12:00 noon at the United Methodist Church, 1700 East Marshall Street, in Charleston, Missouri with Minister Marion Mitchell officiating.

Interment will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery  with the Williams Funeral Home of Charleston in charge of arrangements.