Marguerite C Craft

She was a native of Greenhill, Alabama. Marguerite came to Birmingham to work after she graduated from T.M. Rogers High School in 1953. She worked for Protective Life Insurance and attended business college at night. She met and eventually married her sweetheart, Jerry D. Craft, in a double wedding ceremony on January 15, 1956, in Birmingham. Her determined spirit took her to Maryland with her husband, while he served in the military. There she worked for a company where she was the only woman on the floor performing general office duties and sales. Upon their return to Birmingham, she worked for Alabama Gas in the Customer Service Department. In 1968, she started her first Merle Norman business with partner, Marinox Moore. It all started with an idea and a dream, but their dream became a reality through hard work and exceptional customer service. In 1992, she and Jerry became the sole owners of the business, and it has thrived for the last 57+ years in Gardendale, Alabama. They have experienced much success thanks to their excellent staff and loyal customers, receiving numerous honors from Merle Norman, Inc. throughout the years. Her motto has been “to make every customer feel important and special.”

She was an active member of Hope Community Church, (formerly Gardendale Mt. Vernon UMC), where she was a faithful member of the Ambassadors Sunday School Class and the Mary Rogers Circle. Throughout the years, she participated on many church committees and the Administrative Board. Her love of entertaining provided her the opportunity to lead the Greeter Team, where she welcomed guests and helped them find connections within the Church.

Her free time was often spent relaxing at her home at Smith Lake with her family, friends and hosting church groups. She was always feeding an army of people with just moments notice, while setting a beautiful table for them to enjoy. Evening rides on the lake to enjoy the sunset were always special. Gatlinburg, Tn. was a special place to her, because of the many wonderful memories created during the Ambassador Sunday School Class annual winter trips and the many family trips with the grandkids. She was an avid gardener and had such a love for beautiful flowers.

She was preceded in death by her parents James Newton and Annie Elizabeth Clemmons of Greenhill, Alabama and her husband, Jerry D. Craft of Gardendale, Alabama.

Survivors include her, daughter, Deborah Craft Givens (Ralph), son, Eric Alan Craft; two grandchildren, Brandt Warner Givens (Whitney) and Tyler McClain Givens (Laura), sister, Carolyn Ann Fago, and a wonderful family of nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at Hope Community Church in Gardendale, Alabama with Graveside Services following at Oakwood Cemetery in Gardendale, Alabama; Rev. Steve Baccus, and Rev. Rudy Guess will be officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 7, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Hope Community Church.

The family would like to thank the staff of St. Vincent’s Hospice Unit, Compassus Hospice, Compassus Home Healthcare and Healing Touch Caregivers for their compassionate and professional care.

In lieu of flowers, the family requested that you consider a memorial to Hope Community Church, The Cornerstone Ranch or the National Breast Cancer Foundation.