Eleanor Sowell Cranford

Eleanor Katherine Sowell Cranford, 99, retired housemother for King's Daughters' School and former resident of 8th Avenue, died Saturday, September 8, 2012 at Life Care of Columbia. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at Riverside United Methodist Church with Rev. David Spencer and Rev. David McIntyre officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols and Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to service time at the church. The family suggests memorials to Riverside United Methodist Church, 313 6th Avenue, Columbia 38401 or King's Daughters' School, 412 West 9th Street, Columbia 38401. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com. The Maury County native was the daughter of the late Henry Oscar Sowell and Annie Storey Sowell. She was a charter member of Riverside United Methodist Church and remained faithful and interested in church activities as long as her health allowed. In addition to her work with King's Daughters, she was a retail clerk and private sitter for a number of years and enjoyed painting and flower gardening. Survivors include her sons, James O. "Jimmy" (Joyce) Cranford of Columbia and Dr. Robert H. (Gaye) Cranford of Tyler, Texas; grandchildren, Mike (Marguerite) Cranford and Mark (Ava) Cranford of Houston, Texas; Kathy (Lynn) Burns of Lawrenceburg and Scott (Amy) Cranford of Franklin; great-grandchildren, Paul Bradley Cranford, Chelsey Cranford, and Ben Cranford of Houston, Texas, Lynsey Joy Burns and Landon Scott Burns of Lawrenceburg; Carter Scott Cranford of Franklin; Jake Martin and Jack Martin of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Cindee Martin; sisters, Dorothy Sowell, Elise Morrison, Margaret Lamar, and Lottie Woody; and brother, Robert Sowell. Serving as active pallbearers are Scott Cranford, Lynn Burns, Cliff Walker, Marion Davis, Charles Sanders, Mark Cranford, Mike Cranford, and Landon Burns. Honorary pallbearers include staff of ASU Unit at Life Care of Columbia. The family expresses appreciation to the nurses and staff of ASU Unit at Life Care of Columbia for their care and kindness during her illness.