Charles Gordon Crawley

Charles G. Crawley, 92, of Atlanta, died Friday, March 18, 2016 at his granddaughter’s home in Covington, GA, following an extended illness. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, March 24th at 2:00 pm with Rev. Dr. James Cantrell and Rev. Dr. John Simmons officiating at St. James United Methodist Church, 4400 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, Atlanta 30342. The family will receive friends in the Parlor following the service. The family will gather for a private graveside service earlier in the day at Arlington Memorial Park, Sandy Springs. A native of Statesville, N.C., he was the son of Rufus L. and Martha Oliver Crawley. One of five children, he graduated from Mitchell Academy and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1948, majoring in journalism. Mr. Crawley served three years in the U.S. Navy, primarily in the South Pacific Theater. He attended Auburn University as a Naval Officer candidate but resigned to return to Chapel Hill to complete his education. Upon graduation, he joined the Charlotte News national advertising department and later served as Advertising Manager. In September 1951 Mr. Crawley joined the Katz Agency in New York City and later transferred to Atlanta as manager of the Katz newspaper division for the Southeast. In 1968 he founded a marketing company; then later, Bill Reese joined him to form Crawley-Reese Company that represented several leading publishers. They included Conde-Nast, C.B.S Magazines, Scientific American and the Harvard Business Review. He retired in 1985 to pursue more fully his favorite hobbies of golf and travel. He was an active member of St. James United Methodist Church, Phi Delta Theta fraternity, a life member of Capital City Club, Burge Plantation, the Loose Group, High Museum of Art, the Michael C. Carlos Museum, and Investments Unlimited. Charlie's interest and support for conservative process in government was unwavering. He took an active role in regional and national political issues. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Torras Crawley. Prior to his marriage, he was the widower of Charlotte Woolford Crawley. He is also survived by three step-daughters: Angela Ballenger Sparks, Buford, GA, Cator Ballenger Hartley, Statham, GA, and Eleanor Martin Rollins, Atlanta; two step-sons: Arthur B.L. Martin, Jr., Oakland, CA, Hill Torras Martin, Dallas, TX, eleven step grandchildren, and nine step-great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. James United Methodist Church, 4400 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA 30342, or The Frazer Center, 1815 S. Ponce de Leon Avenue NE 30307 for maintenance of the Cator Woolford Gardens.