Most often, it is not what people do during their time on earth; rather it is what they leave behind. George Washington Crawford Sr. left behind a legacy of posterity.

Crawford was a longtime member of Greater Saint Paul AME Church in Troy and an educator in the Pike County School System during the 1960s and 1970s.

Dr. Johnny Wright, who was principal at Pike County High School when Crawford retired, said he was a man of principle.

“Mr. Crawford taught junior high science,” Wright said. “He was a dedicated teacher and did his job well every day. He was liked by everyone. He was an all around good person.”

Dorothy Belcher, Greater Saint Paul secretary, said Crawford reached back through his daughters and has made it possible for four young members of Greater Saint Paul to be aided in their quest for post high school learning through the George Washington Crawford Sr. Memorial Scholarship.

“His daughters, Georgia Campbell and Delois Crawford, have been instrumental in setting and developing criteria necessary for interested scholarship applicants,” Belcher said. “The scholarships of $500 each have benefited four very deserving students, Kimani Walker, Dorothy Simone Stinger, Quintus Moss and Mitchell Patton.”

Walker, a 2013 graduate of Hoover High School in Birmingham is the most recent scholarship recipient.

“Kimani is presently enrolled at Troy University as a freshman with concentration in computer science,” Belcher said. “Two local 2011 high school graduates received the Crawford scholarships.”

Stringer, a graduate of Goshen High School, is currently enrolled at Enterprise Community College and Moss, a graduate of Charles Henderson High School, attended the University of Alabama.

“Quintus’ interest is in sports education,” Belcher said. “He is employed at HB&G and looks to re-enroll at Troy University.”

Belcher said Patton, a 2010 graduate of Troy University, has a degree in criminal justice and is employed by the State of Texas as a detective.

“These four young people have gratefully benefited from a family that embraces education as an essential choice in personal development and who cares enough to reach out,” Belcher said.