Rev. Arthur "Gene" J. Crowder Sr.

MACON – Rev. Arthur J. “Gene” Crowder, Sr., 78, entered his Heavenly Home on Monday in a local hospital. Funeral services and a celebration of his life and ministry will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, April 9, 2010 in the chapel at Macon Memorial Park Funeral Home with burial in Macon Memorial Park Cemetery. The Rev. Len Woodard, the Rev. Mike Ketchum and Jimmy Ward will officiate. The family will meet friends from 6 – 8 p.m. Thursday, April 8, 2010 at the funeral home and while flowers are accepted, they suggest that those who wish make memorial contributions to Gideons International, Macon Camp East, P. O. Box 5718, Macon, GA 31208.

Rev. Crowder, son of the late Arthur Lee and Ella Frances Shaver Crowder, was born in Lanett, AL and was a graduate of Lanett High School. He also attended Mercer University and served with the U. S. Navy during the Korean Conflict (1950 – 1954). He was preceded in death by his son, Arthur Gene “Little Gene” Crowder, Jr. and by his sister, Frances Potts. Rev. Crowder was manager retired from Kroger Co. after thirty-seven years, April 1, 1957 – April 2, 1994 and was a lifelong member of Lakeview Baptist Church where he pastored for twenty four years, from January 1, 1972 to June 30, 1995.

Rev. Crowder was a kind and gentle Christian example who always wore a smile and had an uplifting and encouraging word for everyone he met. He loved sharing his faith and did so in his “Jesus Is Lord Ministries.” Rev. Crowder served as song leader of the Sunny Morning Breakfast Prayer Club at Cherokee Heights Methodist Church for many years. He was a charter member and a past president and treasurer of South Macon Optimist Club. The City of Macon proclaimed April 5, 1994 as “Gene Crowder Day” in recognition of his unselfish community spirit. It seems fitting that on April 5, 2010, his Heavenly Father welcomed him home.

Rev. Crowder is survived by his family whom he cherished, his wife of fifty-eight years, Faye McCoy Crowder of Macon; his daughter, Paula (Darryl) Huff of Macon; his grandchildren, Anna Marie Crowder Warnock (Michael), Stephanie Renee’ Huff and Paul Lewis Huff, all of Macon; his great granddaughter, Jessica Shyanne Warnock of Macon; his brother, Armand Lee (Kathy) Crowder of Alabama and several nieces and nephews.

Macon Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery has charge of arrangements.