Jerry Lee Crawford

Jerry Crawford died peacefully at St. Mary’s Highland Hills Village on January 29, 2026.

Jerry was born on September 27, 1939, in Commerce Georgia to Lewis Paul Crawford and Mildred Florene Bone Crawford. After graduating from Commerce High School, he attended Oxford College of Emory University.

Upon graduating from Emory University School of Dentistry, he briefly served in the Air Force. While practicing dentistry in Atlanta, he met the love of his life, Judy Lynn Thomas. Jerry and Judy married and started their family in the Atlanta area. Prior to moving his family to Athens, he was an associate professor of pedodontics at Emory. He opened his Athens office in 1973 where he practiced children’s dentistry for over 40 years.

As an active member of the Georgia Society of Dentistry for Children, he held numerous offices including serving as president of the organization. He was also a member of the Athens Area Dental Society and First Presbyterian Church of Athens.

Jerry was a man of faith. He loved to travel and most of all loved his family and friends. He was a devoted father who was always present at his children’s events and was their biggest supporter.

Jerry is survived by his sisters, Martha Massey and Paula Langston; his children and their spouses, Brannon and Elise Crawford, Debra and Jack Newman, Heather Crawford, and Julie Crawford; and his grandchildren, Holden and McKenna Crawford, and Reid, Daniel and Will Newman.

The family would like to thank St. Mary’s Highland Hills Village and Agape Hospice Care for their exceptional care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice in his memory.

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, West, Watkinsville, Georgia is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com.