Clara Mae (Denton) Crayton

On August of 1928, Clara Mae Denton was born in Hallsville, Harrison County, Texas to Clarence and Leola Brown Denton. The Denton sisters were raised by step-mother, Dollie Hill Denton, due to the demise of their birth mother.

At an early age, she joined and was baptized at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Hallsville and attended Galilee schools. Later, Ms. Crayton joined Friendship Baptist Church in Longview, TX. She was a faithful member for over 60 years until her health failed. While at Friendship, Sis. Crayton served in numerous capacities: senior choir, kitchen staff, janitor, mission society, Sunday school and visiting the sick and shut-in. She was employed by Longview Hardware, babysat numerous children in her home and worked for the Bowles family. Other honorary jobs were teacher, crimefighter, nurse, counselor, reporter, chef, entrepreneur, singer, comedian, and speaker of truths. Ms. Crayton cooked homemade items such as biscuits, preserves, jellies, green tomato relish, teacakes, peanut brittle and much more. She has never met a stranger and loved to strike up a conversation pertaining to cooking.

In addition, she was an active member of Timpson Street Crime Watch. Also, Ms. Crayton played a role in obtaining an exit road for Bivins Addition. Her favorite poem was ‘Keep A Goin’. Her favorite song was Shine on Me. She could still quote the 23rd Psalm verbatim and with vigor. Sis. Crayton is the link to generations past and those yet to come. She is the last elder of Bivins
Addition and Friendship Baptist Church.

Preceding her in death are her parents; stepmother; twin brother, Clarence Denton; sisters - Birtha Denton, Velma Glaspie and Juanita Pippins. Also preceding her in death are grandchildren - Jeremiah Pippins, Joshua Crayton, Shametra George and son-in-law, Johnny Carter.

Those left to cherish her memories are Sanford (Dorothy) Crayton, Sr., Danny Holt, Leslie (Monica) Crayton, Sr., Carol Crayton Carter, Johnny (Linda) Crayton, Lonnie Crayton, Vivian Crayton, and Daphne Crayton. She has numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, Bivins Addition neighbors, and friends.

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