A NOTE FROM KELLY DEVOLL, BOB CRAIG'S GRANDSON:

"Hi Byron,

I hope this e-mail finds you and your family doing well and in God’s service. I wanted to send a note along because I was just checking The Expository Review site and saw the announcement of my Granddaddy’s passing. Thank you for posting that. A few months back I noticed that there was a tribute to Robert McDonald (Bob #2). I knew that his passing caused Granddaddy to mourn because he loved brother McDonald very much and had such fond memories of their time together.

It doesn’t take long to realize that many of the “old time” preachers are leaving this world. Some very brave and noble soldiers in the Army of the Lord have fought their last battles and have left the fight to us. I hope and pray that we are able to carry on the fight with the skill, with the grace, with the bravery and with the dignity those men such as Brother McDonald, Brother Leon Odom, and especially (to me) my Granddaddy, Robert L. “Bob” Craig.

I hope you will bear with me as I do not know how long this may turn out to be but I wanted to pass along some thoughts about my Granddaddy.

What a truly remarkable man!

On May 28, 2004 at about 9:40 PM I was upstairs at Mom and Dad’s house when my wife called to me with some distress in her voice and pleaded with me to hurry downstairs. I knew what I would find when I got there. As I went into his and Mamaw’s room I found that his breathing was quite slow and what few breaths he was taking were very labored and shallow. Having spent 4+ years as a paramedic and 15 years in law enforcement (to the day on that day) I have seen this more times than I can count. We all held hands as we held back as many tears as we could. And we waited. Occasionally the HOSPICE nurse would check his heart and at about 9:40 PM she raised her eyes to us and shook her head. And we cried.

One of the bravest soldiers I have ever known had breathed his last. But worse yet, my Granddaddy was gone. It is written that our lives are but a vapor that fades quickly when compared to eternity. But up to this point he had been one of the few constants in MY part of eternity and now his vapor had gone from sight. This loving and gentle man, whom I won’t hesitate to say could scare me to death, carried me crying off of a little league baseball field after taking a fastball to the knee as a catcher. This was shortly after he tortured me by not saying a word to me when I threw a baseball through the window of the church building we lived besides getting ready for the night’s game. He showed no emotion at all! Just went into the building and picked up the glass! No, “Boooy, wide ya do such a thing as that?” or “Well of all things!” NOTHING!!! I later found out that he didn’t want to make me “start ta snivelin’ ” before my game so he held his tongue. Freaked me out was what he did. But later on after getting smacked on the field he lovingly carried me off and let my Mamaw care for my injuries.

The next time you speak with Mamaw ask her about the time I busted my head open staying at their house. Or about the “Green bean Casserole” incident. True story of legend in the Craig and DeVoll households.

I could literally write a novel about that man! And he probably deserves it as much as anyone could. He has had many others and me in stitches or on the floor laughing so hard we could barley breath. Then at other times he’s had us crying out loud after reading a poem about a dog-named “Pooh”. But, for now I’ll leave the rest of the stories out and tell only this one.

Near the end of his preaching time in the pulpit Granddaddy was preaching at the Northside church of Christ here in Georgetown where my wife, my kids, and I now attend. But at the time I was just visiting them and on Sunday morning Granddaddy asked me to lead singing during the worship at Northside. I LOVE to lead singing, especially in front of a good group of singers, large or small. So, I jumped at the chance. I had to choose quickly because I had about 6 minutes to select my songs for the worship.

For some strange reason there was a large number in attendance that day at Northside and the singing seemed cheery and strong! I opened the song service with “Singing Redemptions Song”. We kept it upbeat and light, as it should be. Then I had selected “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” as the song before the prayer. After that song brother Jim Johnson led the congregation in a most beautiful prayer that was easy to hear that the prayer was coming straight from his heart. After the prayer I stood in front of the congregation and led “Hallelujah, What a Savior” and it touched me to the point of a tear slowly falling down my face as we concluded. After the Lord’s Supper I announced the invitation song as “Just As I Am” and before the service we sang “Hallelujah Praise Jehovah”. The congregation sounded GREAT. Chills moved through my body as I sang each song. My voice had felt stronger than it had in a while. And I smiled at Granddaddy as he walked passed me and he nodded. I sat down between my Mother and now new Wife and received the obligatory pats on the legs that come from a proud mother and a wife who is just glad your are there between her and her new mother in law that she hasn’t quite figured out just yet.

As I settled in to my seat and just as I got comfortable my Granddaddy looked up from his notes and looked me dead in the eye! I was frozen as he opened his mouth to take a preparatory breath to begin his speaking. Was I about to be chastised for changing the order of the service or something? Did he have issue with one of the songs I led? Had I pitched them too high or too low? What, what, WHAT!?!? But I waited quietly. And then with his most distinctive and gentle voice this man who has preached since dirt was white opened his voice and said these words I will NEVER forget!

He said, “That was about THE most inspirational song service I have ever heard!” As I sat in the audience with my mouth standing wide open he kept his gaze fixed on me, nodded his head, smiled and said “Thank you Pete.” Pete was my nickname he gave me when I was a child after the trumpeter Pete Kelly. Then he went on about the Lord’s business and to this day I can’t even begin to tell you what the sermon was about. My Granddaddy did not pass out compliments very often but if he did they were deserved and I knew that. He had just paid me a compliment about one of the things I do for Christ in worship and that made it even more important.

Granddaddy loved to sing! He had a beautiful tenor voice and wanted to learn new songs. The night before he died many of us stood around his bed and sang hymns and songs and I know he heard us. You could just tell. And for a moment he was at ease.

It would be less than 24 hours and he would leave this world and would no longer be beside the woman he has loved for more that 65 years. My Mamaw, Ola Craig.

What a beautiful woman herself! What more could a Christian want than a spouse who is there no matter what, with nothing but love and devotion for this one man. She has cried and cried since Granddaddy died. And we have sat with her to give her SOME measure of comfort but what can I do but sit and pray and reassure. Mamaw is what every Christian woman should be and I have never seen her or Granddaddy act in any other way than God’s way. We should all be so fortunate as to spend almost 70 years with a dear sweet woman like Mamaw.

At his memorial service I had the honor of leading the large gathering of around 200 folks in song. What a beautiful tribute to this remarkable man. The singing was magnificent and one can only imagine the sounds as the angels sing around God’s throne. Although it was the most difficult song service I have ever lead in my life I was honored that my Mother and Mamaw had asked me to direct that portion of the service.

He still speaks to us in the writings he has left behind. I wanted to let you know my plans for some of these writings. There are a couple hundred posted on this site and I have numerous articles, stories, etc. that I have received from him over the years. With your permission I would like to copy these articles and use them in a newsletter format that I can send out throughout the community. I want this to be a tribute to him in the format he so loved and Glory to God in preaching and teaching righteousness wherever his words may reach. I may add some of mine from time to time and WILL add Daddy’s from time to time but this is something I feel very strongly about. I will use snail mail and e-mail to send it wherever it will go.

Thank you for allowing me to ramble so. I could write for days about this man. He was very special.

I look forward to seeing you soon. Tell your lovely bride hello for me.

Take care and may God’s Blessings be on you and yours always."

In Brotherly Love

Kelly DeVoll