On March 7, 2017 we lost an amazing woman, wife, mother, pastor, and friend. Mary Elizabeth Lee Crudup, known to her family as “Bet” was born on July 29, 1946 in South Hill, VA. She attended East End High School (South Hill, VA) and graduated on June 8, 1965. To her fellow friends and classmates she was often referred to as a “gentle quiet spirit.” In 1964, just a year before she graduated East End High School, Mary met the love of her life and future husband, Sidney Crudup I. They met randomly at Browns Café’ in South Hill by fate, when Sidney traveled down south and stopped along the highway for a sandwich. This is where it all began.

After graduating in 1965, Mary moved to New York and attended Queens College. While Sidney was away in the service, they shared a long distance relationship which consisted of love letters and visits when they could. On May 29, 1968, Mary and Sidney got married and resided in Perth Amboy, NJ where they had three children. While raising her family, she attended Monmouth Bible Institute and graduated in 1985. May of 1987, Mary received her license to minister at Second Baptist Church in Perth Amboy, NJ.

In 1988, Mary and Sidney decided to move their family to South Toms River, where they joined the Second Baptist Church in South Toms River and served as ministers until their ordination as a pastor in 1997.

Mary worked for American General (AIG) in Neptune NJ for over twenty years. She and her husband retired in 2011 and moved back to South Hill, VA.

Mary left this life to be with her Lord on Tuesday, March 7th preceded by her father, Ellis Harold Russell, her mother, Garnette Lee, her step mother Adlean Russell Baskerville, her brothers; Samuel Tisdale, Jonathan Phillips, and Willie Edwards Lee.

She leaves to mourn her loving and devoted husband, Sidney Crudup I; her son, Sidney Crudup II (daughtet-in-law, Sandra of Orlando, FL); daughters, Celia Crudup (Woodbridge, NJ) and Jessica Crudup (Clementon, NJ); and her two grandchildren Dejha Crudup and Jezmir Myers. Her sisters and brother-in-laws; Anne B. Crenshaw (Larry W.) South Hill, VA, Flora A. Noel (Larry M.), Hopatcong, NJ, and Oberee Phillips, Henderson, NC., brother, Willie D. Jiggetts (Shelia), South Hill, VA, her uncles and aunts who raised her after her mother’s passing; Damper and Annie Florence Minor, South Hill, VA and Charles Arthur and Luginia Lee, Littleton, NC., along with a host of nieces, nephews and loved ones.

Anyone who knew Mary knows she was a special lady and she will be truly missed by all of the lives she touched.

A celebration of life service will be conducted at 11 am Saturday, March 11, 2017 at Olive Branch Baptist Church. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial considerations be directed to Olive Branch Baptist Church, 5223 Blackridge Road, LaCrosse, VA 23950 or American Cancer Society, Mecklenburg County Unit, 4240 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, VA 23060. Online condolences may be directed to www.farrarfuneralhome.net. Farrar Funeral Home of South Hill is serving the family.