Reid Crow

Graveside services for Marshall Reid Crow, 86, of Decatur, were held Saturday, November 21, 2009, in The Decatur City Cemetery. He died Monday, November 16.


Mr. Crow was a native of Wilkes County and was the son of the late James J. and Mary Isabelle Logan Crow. He was the widower of Elizabeth "Libba" Dillard Crow. Mr. Crow enlisted in the military service shortly after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He trained as an aircraft engineer and gunner and became a member of the Army 8th Air Corps, 95th Bomber Group, 412th Air Squadron, in early 1943. He was a B-17 engineer and top turret gunner and flew 23 missions over Europe in a B-17 before being shot down over Germany. The entire crew survived and were prisoners of war for the next 19 months in German Stalag 17b which at its peak held 4000 Americans. After enduring 19 months of unbelievable hardships and near death, the crew survived and was liberated by American troops. Upon his return home, he and his brother, the late Lt. Col. U.S. Air Force WWII James A. Crow, established Collegiate Press, a printing business in downtown Atlanta and successfully operated it until retirement in 1991. Both men grew up on Depot Street in Washington-Wilkes.

Mr. Crow was a beloved and respected resident of the Emory/ Decatur community and was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Decatur. He was a member of the Dixie Wing-a branch of the Commemorative Air Force.

Survivors include four nieces, Tricia Crow Lehmann, Dunwoody; Kathy Crow Jones, Snellville; Martha Harrington Ingram, Jasper; and Carol Mansfield Cornelius, Atlanta; and a nephew, Bobby Dillard of Raleigh, N.C.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the USO, Jean R. Amos USO Center, c/o MaryLou Austin, Hartsfield- Jackson International Airport, #320, Terminal Atrium, Atlanta, GA 30320.
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Robert Harper

Robert Harper, 88, of Rayle, died November 17, 2009, in Wills Memorial Hospital.


Mr. Harper was a native of Wilkes County and was the son of the late Royal Stokely Harper and the late Elizabeth Newsome Harper. He was a retired automobile dealer and coroner of Wilkes County, 1966- 1990. He served his country in the CCC from 1938 to 1942 and the U.S. Marines from 1942 to 1945. He was a Wilkes County school bus driver, 1959-1979, and deacon emeritus of Sardis Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Edith Howard Harper of Rayle; two sons, William H. Harper, Rayle, and Robert Franklin Harper Jr., Demorest; a sister, Laura Jean Stewart, Union Point; a brother, Boyce N. Harper, Lakeland, Fla.; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Hopkins Funeral Home of Washington was in charge of arrangements.
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