Judith Crawford was a longtime supporter and volunteer of Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and helped to develop the Junior League Family Resource Center.
Crawford, longtime Children’s Hospital supporter, dies
Judith Crawford, president of the Friends of Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital from 1990-1991, passed away June 7 at her home. She was 58.
Crawford, who battled breast cancer for more than 20 years, was a longtime supporter and volunteer of Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and helped to develop the Junior League Family Resource Center.
The Family Resource Center (FRC) helps families of children with chronic illnesses, severe injuries and disabilities. The Center also provides community caregivers with information on medical conditions and appropriate services and support groups.
“Judy’s contributions to the planning and development of the Junior League Family Resource Center were immeasurable,” said Barbara Ramsey, Ph.D., director of the FRC. “She was keenly attuned to the needs of the children we serve and offered creative, often humorous approaches to encouraging children to comply with their medical regime, as well as educating families about parenting skills.”
Crawford served as an advisor to the FRC, consulted with organizations in other cities about establishing family resource centers, and was always seeking opportunities to connect individuals and other local and national organizations with Vanderbilt’s FRC.
“Most importantly,” Ramsey said, “Judy had a ‘lightness of being’ that touched children and their families, staff, and all the projects she became involved with at the Center.”
Ramsey said a children’s library within the Junior League Family Resource Center at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt (under construction) will be called the Flying Pig in honor of Crawford. A plaque commemorating Crawford and her work at Children’s Hospital will be featured within the Flying Pig Library.
It was Crawford who introduced the Flying Pig as mascot to the FRC seven years ago when she started volunteering at the FRC. The reference comes from Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”
Crawford was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority, served as co-chair of the Eve of Janus Benefit from 1986-87 and as an alumna collegiate advisor for Vanderbilt students from 1987-91. She graduated from Vanderbilt with a degree in History.
She is survived by her husband, George V. Crawford, Jr.; daughter, Ellen (David) Crawford True, Greenville, N.C.; son, George (Camille) V. Crawford III; grandson, Jack W. Crawford; mother, Frances Rodenhauser; and sister, Betsy Lindseth.
A memorial service was held on Monday, June 11 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church.