Clara J. Crabtree

Clara J. Crabtree, 79, resident of Croasdaile Village, Apt. A165, died Monday morning at Durham Regional Hospital. Born in Durham, she was the daughter of the late Clarence L. and Lillian Smith Jenkins. She was a graduate of Oak Grove High School, received her B. S. Degree from East Carolina Uneersity and a Master's Degree from the Uneersity of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Mrs. Crabtree was employed as a classroom teacher, school librarian and the first library supervisor in the former Durham County Schools. She was a member of the American Library Association, American Association of School Librarians, North Carolina Association of Librarians, North Carolina Association of School Administrators, North Carolina Association of Educators, North Carolina Retired School Personnel, Delta Kappa Gamma Society, and the Church and Synagogue Library Association. After retirement, she was awarded a life membership in the North Carolina Library Association ineecognition of her service toward the advancement of libraries. She served as an officer and on neerous committees in these associations. Mrs. Crabtree was a member of the Braggtown Baptist Church, where she served as a member of the library staff and as a substitute teacher of the JOY Class. She was the voluneer librarian in the Yates Baptist Association Library for 21 years. She served as the Director of the Associational Media Library Organization for many years. Surviving are her husband, Bruce Wilson Crabtree, two step-children, Rebecca C. Gross of Charlotte aneeugene L. Crabtree and wife, Betty Anne both of Winsor, VA and two step-grandchildren, Cameron Gross and LeAnne Crabtree. Funeral services will be held 2 pm Wednesday at Braggtown Baptist Church. The Rev. Grant Whittenbarger and the Rev. Lewis Cash will preside. Burial will be in the Red Mountain Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 pm Tuesday at Hall-Wynne Funeral Home. Flowers are acceptable or memorials may be made to the Library Fund of Braggtown Baptist Church, 3218 N. Roxboro Road, Durham, NC 27704 or the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312 For on-line memorials: www.hallwynne.com. Select Obituaries.