Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Mt. Zion United Methodist Church

Jim died peacefully on Friday June 24, 2022, at home in Lothian, MD with family by his side. He was 94 years old. Jim loved life, family, and friends, and was a kind and gentle man.

Born May 23, 1928 to Mary Beall Cranford and James Roy Cranford Sr. in Annapolis Maryland, Jim’s family history in the Annapolis area dates to 1703 with the birth of Lizzy King.

Jim graduated from Annapolis High School in 1946. Upon graduation he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he served 2 years and deployed on the aircraft carrier USS Hornet. 

After his tour of duty in the Marines, Jim worked for C&P Telephone Company (now Verizon), retiring after 37 years of service.

Jim, along with fellow Annapolitans, founded the Annapolis Athletic Association which offered participation in numerous sports, football being a major focus.
Jim was a member of the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Lothian, a member of the Annapolis Shriners, Boumi Temple and the Annapolis Elks Club; proudly the oldest or nearly oldest member within each organization at the time of his passing.

Jim is survived by his wife of 39 years, Mary; two children, Roy and his wife Julie and Kathleen and her husband, Mark. Grandsons Andrew, wife Katie and great grandson Jack of Hoboken NJ; Adam and fiancée Sarah of Brooklyn NY; Wil of Raleigh NC; by Mary's son David Halsey of Lothian, and grandson David of Pocomoke City, MD; and by Betty Ristaino Bernstein of Annapolis MD, mother of Roy and Kathleen.

Jim was a dog lover and was survived by many grand dogs; Emmy, Lilly, Charlie, Lucy, Archie, and Murph.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Jim’s life at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, 122 Bayard Road, Lothian, MD on Thursday, June 30 from 1 pm until his funeral service begins at 2 pm. Burial will immediately follow the service in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Jim and Mary’s request is to donate to the Tunnel-2-Towers Foundation supporting Veterans with catastrophic injuries, fallen veterans, and fallen First Responders. Donations may be sent to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Attn: Colleen Grace (Jim Cranford), 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306, or online by clicking <a href=https://t2t.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2021_Donor_Form_Final.pdf">HERE</a>

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James Roy Cranford Jr.

James Roy Cranford Jr.

James Cranford Jr. Services

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