Billy Forbus Cranford

Billy Forbus Cranford, 79, of Plymouth, Michigan, died Tuesday June 25 2013 at St. Mary’s Hospice due to complications of bone cancer and pneumonia. He was with family, at peace with life and secure in the grace of God through Christ. He is survived by the love of his life and wife of 56 years, Marjorie Christine Cranford; a daughter, Lori A. Mifsud of Brighton, MI; three sons, Billy David Cranford of Addison, MI; James A. Cranford of Ann Arbor, MI; and Joel L. Cranford of Smyrna, TN; two sisters, Della Barker and Linda Smethwick of Union City, TN; and one brother, Terry Cranford, of Troy, TN; seven granddaughters, three grandsons, three great-grandsons, and dozens of nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by parents Auty and Burnice Cranford of Hornbeak, TN; sisters Josephine Phillips and Sarah Harris, both of Troy, TN; and Sammy Johnson of Union City, TN; a brother, Norris Cranford of Union City, TN; and a son-in-law, Joseph Mifsud of Brighton, MI. Mr. Cranford was born November 21, 1933 in Hornbeak TN in Obion County. He was baptized at the Hornbeak Church of Christ. After moving to Michigan in 1955, he married the former Christine Baggett at the Plymouth Church of Christ in 1957. A member of Iron Workers Local 25, he started a business in precast construction in 1965 where he worked until 1983. He retired from construction in 1992. Billy earned the love and respect of neighbors, co-workers, business associates and members of his congregation through his constant kindness and eagerness to serve and care for people. His wife and children are forever grateful to God for the finest man they have ever known. Visitation will be Friday, June 28, 2013, from 6PM to 9PM at Schrader-Howell Funeral Home in Plymouth, Michigan. Celebration and Memorial will be Saturday at 10:00 AM with interment following at Knollwood Cemetery in Canton, MI. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations in Billy’s name to Shults-Lewis Children’s Home at www.ShultsLewis.org. Pallbearers will be Ed Baggett (Aurora, IL), Mark Heskett (Livonia, MI), Norman Baggett (Westland, MI), Steve Baggett (Taylor, MI), Patrick Gallagher (Plymouth, MI), Lloyd Work (Carmel, IN), John Reddy (Plymouth, MI), Kevin Johnson (Massillion, OH), Daniel Connor (Brighton, MI) and Brandon Triplett (Canton, MI). Honorary Pallbearers are grandsons Ricky Martin (Howell, MI) and Jacob Cranford (Hudson, MI).