LELAND — Richard “Dickie” Arnold Cranford Sr. of Leland, NC, passed away peacefully of natural causes at New Hanover Regional Medical Center on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
Dickie was born in Longview, Texas, but his family relocated back to their longtime home of Chester, SC, shortly after his birth. It is said that he was so small at the time that he made the journey from Texas to South Carolina in a shoebox on the front seat of the car, between his parents. Dickie grew up in Chester, where several family members worked in the cotton mills. Dickie’s mill village childhood consisted of close family, friends, and neighbors who all looked out for one another and he was particularly fond of playing baseball with his friends, notably his friend Tuck Barber and his cousin Billy Player. He graduated from Chester High School as a proud member of the class of 1965.
Dickie went on to become the first person in his immediate family to achieve a college degree by putting himself through the University of South Carolina, often taking semesters off to work and save up money for tuition to go back for a few more semesters. In December of 1971, he proudly graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration, with a goal of working in management in the textile industry. Life took a turn when a job opened up at Chester County Hospital in the Purchasing Department, and Dickie began a career of over thirty years as a hospital buyer. In 1987, he relocated his family to Wilmington, NC, to work in purchasing at New Hanover Regional Hospital, which later grew to become New Hanover Regional Medical Center, caring for patients from all over southeastern North Carolina. Dickie excelled in his job, developing a unique expertise in hospital supplies, ranging from things as simple as syringes to purchasing specialized ambulances and helping to buy the hospital’s first helicopter for emergency patient transport. He derived great satisfaction from knowing his job helped people. Dickie continued to work at New Hanover Regional Medical Center for over 23 years before retiring with merit.
Immediately after graduating from college in 1971, Dickie married the love of his life, Kay. They went on to have a daughter, Allison, and two sons, Richard Jr. (Rick) and Jamey. Early in their marriage, Dickie and Kay gave their lives to Christ, making God the center of their home and joining and participating in their local church. Dickie served in their church in almost every position he could, including teaching Sunday School, becoming a deacon and elder, and “leading the singing,” as it was called long before the term Worship Leader was used. Dickie shared his gift of singing often as well, through solos and participating in church passion plays and cantatas.
Dickie was a lifelong supporter of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks as a student, alumni, and devoted fan. After moving to Wilmington, he also cheered for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, especially in basketball. He continued to follow baseball throughout his life and enjoyed rooting for the Atlanta Braves, while his favorite player was Willie Mays. He also loved football, faithfully supporting the Washington Redskins in both good years and bad, but especially in the 1990s! He enjoyed gardening, woodworking, history, genealogy, and being a PaPaw!
Dickie was preceded in death by his dearly beloved son, James (Jamey) Andrew Cranford and his grandson Nathan McMillan, whom he called “PaPaw’s Champion”; his father, GC “Blondie” Cranford; his mother, Eunice Cranford; his big sister, Sandra Armstrong; and his only brother, Grover “Chipper” Cranford. Dickie is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Kay Cranford; his little girl, Allison (Chris) McMillan; and his son Richard “Rick” (Alberta) Cranford Jr. Dickie’s surviving grandchildren, his pride and joy, include Jaslyn Mott, Jaleel Mott, Julian Cranford, Justin Cranford, Michael Doval, Carissa McMillan, Wright Cranford and Harper Cranford.
Services to honor the life of Dickie Cranford include a viewing and family visitation on Sunday, February 2, from 2 to 3 p.m. at Wilmington Funeral and Cremation Chapel, 525 Village Road, Leland, NC, and a funeral on Monday, February 3, at 2 p.m. at Elah Baptist Church, 1527 Old Fayetteville Road NE, Leland, NC.
Dickie’s family would like to give special thanks to Pastor Kenneth Long and the members of Elah Baptist Church for their tireless care of their family and to the nursing, therapy and administrative staff of Peak Resources of Wilmington and the nurses and doctors of New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s 8th floor.
