Katie Mae Crawford Davis was born on June 22, 1936 in Madison County Alabama. Her parents were Odell Thompson Crawford and Robert Lee Crawford. She had two twin brothers Robert L. Crawford and Clarence L. Crawford, who preceded her in death.

She was the mother of four children, Robbie Lynn Darden and Gregory Lane Darden both deceased. She is survived by her daughters Glenda Darden and Kelli Davis (Grant) McGuffey of Springfield, TN. She is also survived by her two beloved granddaughters Kennedi M. Thomas and Kierston E. Armstrong of Springfield, TN. She is also survived by four nephews Richard Saine Jr. (Angie); Tim Crawford from Nashville, TN; Mark Crawford from New York City; and Robert Crawford Jr. from Milwaukee, Wis. She is survived by two nieces, Greta Crawford, from Milwaukee, Wis., and Neta Crawford from Medford, Mass; and her grandniece, Rose J. Crawford of Medford, MA.

Katie moved with her mother and brothers to Muncie, Indiana in 1941. Katie graduated from Muncie Central Highschool in 1954. She was an excellent student and the first black student in Central High history to be a member of the National Honor Society. She graduated from Ball State University with a B.A. in Fine Arts and a Master in Counseling Psychology. She taught fine arts for two year in Detroit, Michigan and completed her teaching career of 31 years as a Guidance Counselor at Franklin and Wilson Middle Schools in Muncie, Indiana.

Katie retired to Huntsville, Alabama in the early 1990's. She enjoyed special friends like Charles Gamble who was like a son to her and Glenda Faye and Frank Malone, also beloved cousins. Michael Thomas and Bobby Johnson were also a great help to her. Also, Rose Lacey, neighbor and friend, and Derek and Margaret Ruttan from Muncie, Indiana.

Katie Mae died on May 16th, 2020, at age 83. Her children Glenda and Kelli were by her side.

Funeral Message from Katie

In all possibility, maybe some of my closest living relatives may not be here today.

If they are here, thank you and I love you.

But whatever this event means to you, I would like to remind you of some people who I know will soon be with me again.

I speak now of my beloved grandmother, Mamma Kate.  Long-ago deceased but never forgotten. Now this was a REAL grandmother. She loved me and supported me from a baby to an adult. It will be wonderful to see her again.

As a child she took me fishing (which I loved). She taught me how to pick wild salad greens and Best of all she lived across the street from a park (which contained a large bear in a big cage) and convinced me that if that bear ever got out she would handle him.  As a further measure of my security, I always slept in back of mama Kate so she could deal the bear before he could get to me.

She was lovable and very brave.  Some of my favorite childhood memories are about our adventures. She was fearless and not afraid of worms, spiders, and snakes, and would let nothing stand between her and fishing.  I of course remained safely behind her. She was like a pioneer woman who dried apples on the roof and made elderberry wine. She was a great country cook. While I didn't get to taste her elderberry wine, she made the best fried apple pies in the world.  We had a wonderful apple tree in the yard.

Other dear ones waiting for me are my daughter Robbie Lynn Darden and my son Gregory Lane Darden.  They both left me much too soon. I look forward to seeing them again.  My daughter Robbie Lynn and son Gregory will surely be glad to see me. They left so fast that I didn't get to say goodbye and tell them that I loved them.