Mary Higdon

Visitation for Mary Angela Crawford Higdon, 78 of Cookeville, were held 4-7 p.m. Friday, January 22nd at the Cookeville chapel of Hooper-Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home. She passed away peacefully with her children at her side at Cookeville Regional Medical Center on Friday, January 1, 2021. Mary will be lovingly remembered by her children: Brian Higdon (Kimberly) of Nashville, Paul Higdon (Susan) of Franklin, and Rhonda Higdon England (Luke Chaffin) of Cookeville; grandchildren: Lindsey Higdon of Franklin, Chelsey Higdon of Mexico Beach, FL, Thomas Higdon of Franklin, Wade and Jack England and Parker Chaffin of Cookeville. She will also be dearly missed by her brothers and sisters: Phyllis Solari (Jimmy), Carolyn Toups (Joe), Joe Crawford, Susan Meche; sisters-in-law: Christine Crawford, Charmayne Crawford, Anna Crawford, and the many nieces and nephews from her large family in Lake Charles, LA. She is preceded in death by her loving husband of 55 years, Danny Wallace Higdon; her parents: Lyman Alger (L.A.) Crawford and Marie Louise Romero Crawford; brothers and sister: Pete Crawford, Dr. Pat Crawford, Jane Crawford, Dr. John Crawford, and sister-in-law Karen Berry Crawford. Mary was born September 16, 1942, in Lake Charles, LA, to L.A. and Louise Crawford. She was the third of nine children and was involved in many extracurricular activities, including being titled Ms. Water Safety for Calcasieu Parish in 1962. She graduated from St. Charles Academy in 1960 and received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from McNeese State University in 1964 and 1967, respectively. Married in 1964, she and her family later moved to Houston, TX so that her husband Danny could complete his doctorate in Education. Upon Danny’s acceptance of a professor position at Tennessee Technological University, the family moved to Cookeville in 1973. She was a devout Catholic and a member of the St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Cookeville. Mary began her teaching career at Capshaw Elementary and in 1977 accepted a position with Parkview Elementary as a Title I Math teacher. She taught at Parkview Elementary for 20 years with several of those years serving as interim principal. Mary moved to the newly formed Prescott Central Middle School in 1996 and served as the assistant principal. In 1997 she became Principal at Prescott and remained there until her retirement in 2000. Everyone always knew where you stood with her and she was a firm believer in tough love. She loved her time as a teacher and administrator and positively influenced countless students and colleagues. Mary’s number one priority outside of teaching was her family. She was completely devoted to her husband Danny and treasured her children and grandchildren. She especially loved her role as Maw Maw and taking care of her grandchildren. She was a master cook in the kitchen and always had enough to feed a small army. She cared deeply for her family in Cookeville along with her large extended Cajun family in Lake Charles, LA where she enjoyed spending quality time on Maw Maw Crawford’s “back porch”. Mary was a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, and matriarch of her family. She will be greatly missed by all that she touched, but her place now is with her beloved husband, Danny. Memorial services will be held at a future date in Lake Charles. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Parkview Elementary School or Tennessee Tech University. Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. (931)526-6111 You may share your thoughts and memories at www.hhhfunerals.com.