Willie Wadous Cragg, 94, passed away on Thursday, March 27, 2025. Born in Rabun County on August 1, 1930, Willie spent the majority of his life in North Georgia. After graduating high school, he attended Berry College on a basketball scholarship before accidentally joining the U.S. Navy. He intended to go to the recruiting office with his younger brother Olen but the recruiter sent Olen back home for being too scrawny (he ate bananas for 6 weeks, tried again, & enlisted successfully). Willie, however, was convinced to join and became a ship's carpenter in the Navy, serving during the Korean War. He sent his paycheck back home to mom and dad, who used the money to purchase the property where his family still lives on Bridge Creek.

After separating from the service, he hitch hiked back to Rabun from San Diego. Shortly after he returned home, he met Cathryn walking down Main Street in Clayton. The two married in 1955, and welcomed son Willard Dale in 1956 followed by Joseph in 1963.

Willie worked for Montgomery Ward for several years, which took him to Chicago until he came back to Georgia as the regional service manager for Panasonic. He resided in Atlanta briefly before returning home to Rabun in the 1970s. Upon his retirement in 1992, he turned his attention to exhausting cross country road trips with his wife and doting on his two grandchildren. For the past 30 years, Willie enjoyed taking care of the critter menagerie on the mountain and passing the time by watching westerns. He is deeply adored by his family, and they will always cherish their memories of life with Gramps.

He is predeceased by his parents, Lonzo and Eulah Lovell Cragg, brothers Floyd Cragg and Olen Cragg, sister Myrtice Cragg Watts, wife Mary Cathryn Schultz Cragg, and son Joseph Cragg. Willie is survived by son Dale Cragg (Carol), and grandchildren JD Cragg (Zoe) and Jessie Cragg (Micah).

The family will receive friends Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at Beck Funeral Home from 12:00 until 1:30 PM. A graveside service will follow at Rocky Grove Baptist Church Cemetery at 2:00 PM with Rev. Kyle Watts officiating.

Beck Funeral Home, in Clayton, Georgia, is in charge of the arrangements and is honored to serve the family of Willie Wadous Cragg. If there are any questions, please call 706-782-9599. An online Memorial Register Book is available at www.beckfuneralhome.com.