Mary Nancy (Burge) Cranford

Mary Nancy (Burge) Cranford, 75 of Lumberton, went right where she wanted to be...home to heaven Thursday afternoon from her home, with her loving husband by her side. Nancy was born September 8, 1947 at the family home in Pearl River County, the baby of three girls to James Eli and Mary Audrey (Merritt) Burge. Growing up in Lumberton, Nancy's parents pastored Rouse Field Full Gospel Church, where her love for the Lord, music, and people began.  She enjoyed singing and learned to play the guitar, piano, mandolin, violin, and even the accordion. Nancy attended Lumberton High School and later received her GED before deciding to return to school and become a nurse. She persevered, graduating from Pearl River Community College as an RN.  Nancy's love for people was shown through her career as a registered nurse, working in several hospitals from Lumberton to Hattiesburg. Later she would obtain her Master's degree in Christian Counseling, continuing to spread God's love through teaching and ministering. With her Choctaw heritage, she especially enjoyed going and ministering to the Choctaw people. Nancy was a dedicated, hard-working woman who enjoyed gardening, sewing clothes for her children, cooking, and so much more. When she wasn't working, she loved good fellowship with friends and family, which usually had plenty of laughter and ended up around the dinner table, eating fried catfish, her famous white beans, or her salmon croquets.  Never afraid to tell you like it was, Nancy was a true "firecracker", as evidenced by her beautiful red hair. She was married to Donald Ray Reid, Sr. for twenty-three years, with whom she shared her four children. Nancy later married Larry Thompson, and after his passing from cancer, she blessed with love again and married her husband of the past seventeen years, Al Cranford. Over that time, the two were rarely seen apart, spending lots of time enjoying their lives together. For all she was, Nancy will be forever loved and missed by all the many lives she touched. She has moved to her eternal home in glory where she joins her parents, Rev. James and Mary Burge; both sisters, Margaret Seal and Lorena Shedd, and her baby boy, Shelton Wayne Reid. Left to cherish the many fond memories are: her soul mate and loving husband, Al; her children: Donnie (Connie) Reid of Purvis, Doreen (Eddie) Dykes of Lumberton, and Dewey (Raquel) Reid of Chandlerville, IL. Nancy leaves a legacy of seven grandchildren: Coy (Kaylee) Dykes, Casey (Hannah) Dykes, Joshua (Sandy) Reid, Brandon Reid, Amber (Will) Fortenberry, D.J. Reid, Jr. and Kevin Reid, along with numerous great-grands, extended family members and friends far and wide. Funeral services are set for Sunday, May 21st at Faith Fellowship in Purvis. Visitation will begin at 2:00 PM, followed by the funeral service at 4:00 PM with Revs. Davy Fitte and Leon Herrin officiating. Afterward, she will be laid to rest in Byrd Line Cemetery in Lumberton. Trinity Funeral Services is honored to serve the Cranford family in their time of need, asking everyone to keep Al and the entire family in your thoughts and prayers.