James "Jay" M. Craven Sr.

James Morris Craven “Jay” of Chattanooga passed away on February 3, 2017. He was a lifelong resident of Chattanooga. He was an accomplished musician and educator in the Chattanooga Public Schools as a teacher of music at Chattanooga High School and then as Supervisor of Music for the Chattanooga City Schools before retiring in 1986. As a musician, he was the principal chair clarinetist for the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Association for over 50 years. He was also the personnel manager for the CSOA during his tenure. He also was a director for the Chattanooga Symphony Youth Orchestra during his career. He retired from CSO in 1996.

He was also the minister of music at Westminster Presbyterian Church as well as the summer music director at First Presbyterian Church for many years.

As a musician, Jay performed with many local musicians for weddings, social engagements, and particularly enjoyed playing for the annual Cotton Ball. He and local pianists performed for many church groups and nursing homes.

The Chattanooga Clarinet Choir was created by Jay in 1999 and he continued to play with the choir up until 2015.

He belonged and served in many capacities with the local, state, and national music associations. He was a Past President of the Tennessee Music Educators serving from 1972-1974

He was awarded Tennessee’s Outstanding Achievement Award in 1998. He was inducted into the Tennessee Music Educators Association Hall of Fame in 2008. He was also inducted into the Chattanooga High School Hall of Fame in 2010 and named the Outstanding Alumnus of the University of Tennessee Chattanooga’s Music Department in 2014. As a volunteer at Memorial Hospital, Jay played his clarinet two to three days a week, sitting in the hallways, patient rooms, waiting rooms, and anyplace people needed the soothing melody of a favorite or reassuring song. Jay served as president of the Volunteers at Memorial as well as in other positions within the auxiliary during his time there. He made 6 CD’s based on the music he played at Memorial Hospital, entitled “Melodies from Memorial” All proceeds from the sale of all the CD’s were donated to various departments at Memorial Hospital. He received the Tennessee Hospital Association’s Meritorious Service Award in 2005.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church and a member of Chattanooga Half Century Club.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Edna Craven; sister, Regina Clark; brother, Roy C. Craven, Jr.; and sister, R. Jayne Craven.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Kathleen Bender Craven; son, Dr. Jamie Craven (Mary Beth); daughter, Resha Oliphant (Ed) of Smyrna, TN; three grandchildren, Rachael Craven and James Craven III of Chattanooga, and Corinne Oliphant of Smyrna, TN.

The family will receive friends from 4-8 PM on Monday, February 6th at Chattanooga Funeral Home North Chapel, Hixson and from 12:30 -1 PM on Tuesday, February 7th at First Presbyterian Church. The funeral service will be at 1:00 PM Tuesday, February 7th at First Presbyterian Church with Pastor Robert Row and Pastor Chris Ehlers officiating. The family will have a private committal service at Forest Hills Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Tom Norman, Dr. Bill Meadows, Nick Hartline, Ron Starnes, Tom Wolfe, and Earl Freudenberg. Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the Memorial Volunteer Association. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Jay Craven Clarinet Scholarship with the Chattanooga Music Club, P.O. Box 21572, 7610 E. Brainerd Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37421 or the Memorial Hospital Volunteer Association.

Arrangements are under the care of the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson.