The Honorable George Thomas Craig, aged 73, of Athens, Ala., died on Dec. 4, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.
George was born in Yokohama, Japan, on March 10, 1952. With his family, he came to the United States at the age of six and lived in California before settling in Limestone County, Ala. in 1964.
He was introduced to Charlotte Davis by friends, and they were married soon after on Dec. 30, 1971 in Athens. They spent 54 years together rearing their two children, travelling, and enjoying outdoor activities.
George graduated from West Limestone High School in 1970. He excelled in academics, football, basketball, and baseball. He went on to attend Athens State University, University of Alabama Huntsville, and the University of Alabama School of Law earning a juris doctor and degrees in biology, chemistry, and accounting.
In addition to practicing law in Athens and Huntsville, George served Limestone County as a district judge, and then a circuit judge for a combined 18 years. George was the only elected Asian-American judge in Alabama court history and the only Independent elected circuit judge in the state of Alabama. He retired in 2012 after serving as the director of the Limestone County Department of Corrections assisting people transitioning out of incarceration into meaningful work and life.
George was deeply committed to the community, arts, and justice, serving on the boards of Athens-Limestone Hospice, Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, Limestone County Sports Hall of Fame, and Legal Services Alabama.
George will be remembered for his devotion to family, kindness to others, and concern for those most vulnerable. He loved God and his church, where he served as an elder and Sunday school teacher.
George was passionate about hosting. He pulled out all the stops for his annual Thanksgiving dinner for over 40 guests. He enjoyed listening to good music, eating good food, spending time with good friends he considered family, going to beautiful places, especially Gulf Shores, walking his dogs and being wherever his wife, kids and grandkids—who were all a great source of pride and joy—were.
George is survived by his wife, Charlotte Craig; his children, Peggy Jean (Matt McCaffrey) Craig and Jeremy (Lee) Craig; grandchildren Joji McCaffrey, Luca McCaffrey and Naomi Craig; sisters Frances (Kenneth) Shipman and Angelia (Robert) Johnson; and dozens of cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Grady Buren Craig and his mother Jeanne Satoko Craig.
A celebration of George’s life will be held at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Rogersville on Dec. 27, 2025. Visitation will start at 9:30 a.m., with a service at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in George’s honor to the food pantry at Covenant Presbyterian Church of Germantown (2385 Riverdale Road, Germantown, TN 38138) or Alabama Legal Services (P.O. Box 20787, Montgomery, AL 36120).
