Marian Vineyard Cranford

CRANFORD, MARIAN VINEYARD Marian Vineyard Cranford, counselor and mentor to many, quietly slipped away to a better place on Wednesday, March 6, 2013. It was her 88th birthday. A native of Mobile, she was born on March 6, 1925 to Jessie deWinter Vineyard and Rodney Cecil Vineyard. Following her father's death, she was raised by her mother and step-father, Dr. Cecil H. Ross. A graduate of Murphy High School, Marian attended Birmingham-Southern College. She was married to John Morris Cranford in 1943. While John served as a marine in the Pacific during World War II, Marian worked at Brookley Field. Following the war, she gave birth to two daughters, Ruth Cranford Ash of Birmingham and Elizabeth Cranford Carlson of Houston. A Friend of Bill W's for 48 years, Marian was widely loved as a sponsor, friend, and resource to many people recovering from the diseases of alcoholism and drug addiction. Marian was Director of Continuing Care at Bradford, Parkside and Brookwood Recovery Centers for many years. The Marian Vineyard Cranford Award is named in her honor and is presented each year to an outstanding counselor by the Drug Education Council of Mobile. Marian is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Ruth Cranford Ash and Charles Michael Ash, of Birmingam; her daughter, Elizabeth Cranford Carlson, of Houston; her grandchildren Michelle and Alan Carlson, of Baytown, Texas; Michael Carlson, of Houston, Texas; Skye Espejo, of Houston; Amy and Bruce Cooper, of Birmingham; Amanda and Chris Mixon, of Nashville, Tennessee; and Kim and Michael Spinello, of Raleigh, North Carolina; and her great grandchildren, Coby and Debbie Carlson; Samantha and Hunter Carlson; Emma Ruth and Olivia Cooper; and Eleanor and Andrew Mixon. She is also survived by her sister, Ruth Vineyard Cooner, of Mobile; her nephew Jonathan Hollis Cooner, of Montgomery; and many dear friends. Visitation will be held from 10:30 until Noon on Saturday, March 9, 2013, at the Johns-Ridout's Southside Birmingham location, with the funeral service to follow.