Mrs. Earnestine Crawford Shaw, affectionately called ‘’Tee’’, was born April 14, 1941 in Huntsville, Alabama to the late Reverend Samuel Crawford and Louella Walker Crawford. The third oldest of ten siblings, Earnestine accepted Christ at an early age and became a member of Morris Chapel in Huntsville, Alabama under the Pastorship of Rev. Pete Matthews. Earnestine and her five sisters formed the “Crawford Sisters” choir, singing in local area churches whenever their father, Rev. Sam Crawford, preached.
While attending Alabama A & M University her brother, James, invited a classmate, John Shaw, to visit the Crawford home for dinner. The visitor, affectionately known as “Shaw”, not only enjoyed the meal but, also found the love of his life, Earnestine. Earnestine and Shaw married in 1965 and their union produced a daughter, Aretha Ann, and later, two grandsons, Trey and Jon. During their 38 years of marriage, Earnestine joined the Saint Bartley P.B. Church and remained a faithful member until her death.
A former member of the Fun-Set Social Club and the Daughters of the Elks, Earnestine began her career with the Huntsville Police Department as a School Crossing Guard and later as an Emergency Dispatch Operator. Earnestine enjoyed playing cards, working in her yard, talking on the phone, and spending time with her family. Excited for upcoming holidays, Earnestine would be busy planning the family holiday meals weeks in advance. Known for her laugh and signature “1” finger in photographs, Earnestine had genuine love and concern for all of her family and friends. Although she will be dearly missed, she will never be forgotten.
Earnestine is preceded in death by her husband, parents, two sisters, Marie Crawford Young and Bernice Crawford Walker, and a brother L. C. Crawford.
She leaves to cherish her memories: her loving, devoted daughter and caretaker, Aretha Hammonds (Jerome); grandsons, Jerome “Trey” Hammonds, III and Jonathon “Jon” Shaw Hammonds; brothers: Samuel Lee Crawford (Naomi), James Caesar Crawford and John David Crawford, all of Huntsville, Alabama; sisters: Geneva Crawford O’Neal, Lavella Crawford and Ethel Lee Crawford, all of Huntsville Alabama; one aunt, Johnnie Mae King, of Chicago, Illinois; brothers-in-law: Nehemiah Shaw of Jackson, Mississippi, Leroy Shaw (Martha) of Alberta, Alabama, Willie Shaw (Angela) of Los Angeles, California and Julius Walker of Huntsville, Alabama; several nieces, nephews, and cousins; special friends: Betty and Pastor Archie Emanuel, Walter and Haley Bone and Joann Toney.
Funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m., Friday, April 13, 2018, at St. Bartley Primitive Baptist Church, (3020 Belafonte Avenue N.W. Huntsville, AL 35816), with Reverend Sammy Milton officiating. Interment will be at Valhalla Memory Gardens, Huntsville, AL. Mrs. Shaw will lie in repose one hour prior to funeral time. Public viewing will be from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, April 12, 2018, and from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Friday, April 13, 2018, at the Royal Funeral Home.
