October 20, 2024
MILLEN – It has been said, “Some people are so good and kind that their death even makes the undertaker sad.” Robert Fields of the Crowe-Fields Funeral Home in Millen explained that the aforementioned comment could be said about Maurice Crowder, who passed away on Wednesday, December 15th at 95-years of age.
Fields explained, “Maurice Crowder was a super guy. He was always willing to help anyone in any way possible. He often conducted funerals for us for people he didn’t even know. He officiated at a graveside service for us about six weeks ago here in Millen.”
The Middle Baptist Association website posted a brief obituary on December 15th, stating, “Dr. Maurice Crowder left this world for his heavenly home early this morning. The Lord blessed him with 95 years of life, with the ability to preach and live independently to nearly his last days.” According to Charlie Cooper, Pastor of Sylvania’s First Baptist Church, Crowder preached at Big Horse Creek Baptist Church on the Sunday before he died.
Pastor Crowder is now reunited with his beloved wife, Mary Rector Crowder who went to be with the Lord on Christmas Day in 2010. Whenever anyone asked Maurice how long he and Mary were married he always responded, “sixty years, four months and 14 days.”
The Crowe-Fields Funeral Home Director added, “He was a close friend of our family. He performed the wedding ceremony for my wife and me and did the same for my son and his wife.”
When informed of Crowder’s death at age 95 a child not more than ten-years-old exclaimed, “He must have really loved and obeyed his parents to have lived that long.” One could suppose that the child was referring to the fifth commandment which contains an applicable promise: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12).
Anyone who knew Maurice Crowder can believe he was an obedient child, because when he grew into manhood, he gave every evidence of being a man of integrity, a devoted follower of Jesus Christ and a faithful pastor and a fervent preacher of the Word of God.
Pastor Cooper testified, “Maurice Crowder was a great man of God, had a sweet spirit and was faithful until death. He came to practically all our Baptist meetings and wanted to be involved in all facets of God’s work. He loved the Lord and the Word of the Lord; and he was an example of grace and integrity. We will miss him here in East Georgia.”
On April 10, 2017, The Christian Index published an article on Crowder in which he gave young preachers some bold and sagacious advice. He stated, “Stick to the Bible and preach what it says. We need to get back to ‘brass knuckles’ sermons. We are not hearing the same kind of preaching I heard when I first started out.” See that article here: https://christianindex.org/stories/meet-90-year-old-pastor-maurice-crowder,1421
Crowder as born on November 22, 1926, to the late H. R. and Allie J. Crowder in Saluda, SC. He graduated from Charleston High School and entered the U. S. Merchant Marines followed by service in the U. S. Army during World War II. He graduated from Charleston High School, North Greenville Junior College, Furman University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Luther Rice Seminary.
Dr. Crowder served as associate pastor at First Baptist Church of Ft. Mill, SC, followed by pastorates at Plum Branch Baptist church, East Athens Baptist Church, Millen Baptist Church, and First Baptist Church of McCaysville. After retirement he served as interim pastor at Portal Baptist Church, and two churches in the Middle Baptist Association: Elam Baptist Church and last at Big Horse Creek Baptist Church.
He was very active in Georgia Baptist associations, served on the executive committee of the South Carolina Baptist Convention and the executive committee and administration committee of the Georgia Baptist Convention.
The visitation will be Sunday, December 19th, from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Crowe-Fields Funeral Home in Millen. A Memorial Service will be at 11:00 am Monday, December 20th, at the Millen Baptist Church with Rev. David Wheeler and Rev. David Payne officiating. Burial will follow in the Millen Cemetery.
