John Philip Crawford Sr., 64, of Statesville, North Carolina, passed away on Friday, September 18, 2026. Born November 1, 1961, in Statesville, North Carolina, John carried a steady pride in where he came from and the life he built through grit, skill, and a mind that never stopped working. He earned his Master’s Degree and was exceptionally smart—an intelligence that showed itself not in fanfare, but in the practical way he solved problems and the confidence with which he handled whatever needed doing.
John was the kind of man who worked with his hands and his whole heart. A self-described workaholic, he spent nearly four decades in fence construction, and he also retired from Stephens Pipe and Steel, LLC. Day after day, he showed up, pushed through, and provided—quietly proving that dedication is its own kind of love.
He shared 29 years of marriage with his wife, Callie Annelle Harris Crawford. Together, they built a home anchored by loyalty, perseverance, and the everyday moments that become a lifetime. Those who knew John best knew that beneath the long hours and determined pace was a man who could lighten a room with his humor—quick-witted, observant, and always ready with a laugh when it was needed most.
John’s interests reflected both his precision and his joy. He loved NASCAR, was a true car enthusiast, and took pride in being a Master Mechanic—someone who understood how things worked and how to make them work again. At home, he enjoyed “cop” shows, and his keen sense of humor shone through in his love for Richard Pryor/Gene Wilder movies, the kind of comedy that made him laugh out loud and made the people around him laugh, too.
John was preceded in death by his father, John Paul Crawford, and his mother, Ella Mae Snyder Crawford. He is survived by his wife, Callie Annelle Harris Crawford; his son, John Philip Crawford, Jr. (Jennifer) of Mocksville, North Carolina; his daughters, Dawn Hays of Statesville, North Carolina, and Mary Beth Crawford Morgan of Cleveland, North Carolina; and his beloved grandchildren, Alexis, Craig, Ashlyn, Mia, Channing, Evan Crawford, Jasmine and Jonathan Morgan, and Damian Swain, Isaac and Marc Hays.
The family will receive friends at Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home in Statesville, North Carolina, on Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A funeral service will be held in the Chapel at Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home on Friday, September 25, 2026, at 11:00 am and he will be laid to rest at Concord Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Statesville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625, or online at www.hoic.org.
Pallbearers will be Damian Swain, Andre McCullogh, Tony Natali, Isaac Hays, Darby Booth, and Marc Hays.
Words of condolences and messages of sympathy may be shared with the family, online at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com
Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home of Statesville is entrusted with the care of Mr. Crawford and his family.
